Guyanese tops Global Water Partnership Media Awards
Written by Demerara Waves
Tuesday, 08 May 2012 15:10
Shane Hubbard
The Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers (ACM) on Tuesday congratulated Mr. Shane Hubbard of CNS TV6 in Guyana for his success in the inaugural Global Water Partnership-Caribbean’s (GWP-C’s) Media Awards.
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) also congratulated Hubbard.
Mr Hubbard is an Editor and Videographer at the station. Mr. Hubbard’s television submission under the theme “Water and Food Security” surpassed all entries in the competition in terms of its organisation, creativity and production in communicating the chosen topic.
The television piece which was written, directed and narrated by Mr. Hubbard, gives a compelling look into the critical importance of water in Guyana’s agricultural sector.
It carefully and creatively illustrates a plethora of issues related to water’s vital link to food security; steps taken by the Guyanese government to ensuring the country’s food security; the strain on Guyana’s water with agriculture being a large consumer of the resource; among other issues.
Amidst these issues, the video also encapsulated the need for Guyanese citizens to be more aware of the realities of water scarcity and the key role they can play in conserving water.
According to the judging panel which consisted of Caribbean experts and professionals, Mr. Hubbard’s video was “impactful, created multi-audience appeal and was well produced.” As the winner of the competition, Mr. Hubbard will receive the first place Award and a cash prize.
GWP-C launched its Media Awards on Water on March 5th, 2012 in an effort to inspire Caribbean journalists to report more on water and also to commemorate the United Nations’ World Water Day which is celebrated on March 22nd each year. The competition which ended on April 10th, 2012 called for media practitioners in the areas of print, television, radio and multi-media to submit original, published works on themes such as Water and Food Security; Water Conservation; Water and Poverty; Water and Health; Water for All; Climate Change; Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); among other water related topics.
After careful deliberation by the judging panel, the following entrants were deemed worthy of Honourable Mention:
Ms. Veoma Ali, Regional Advertising Manager at One Caribbean Media Limited in Barbados for her radio entry under the theme “Water Conservation.” Her radio piece sought to encourage Caribbean people to see themselves as the solution in terms of conserving water and protecting the environment. Ms. Ali’s entry also included useful water-saving tips for the home that are often overlooked.
Mrs. Latoya Minott-Spence, Reporter and Producer at Television Jamaica for her television entry under the themes “Water for All; Water and Poverty; Water and Health.” Mrs. Minott-Spence created a four part television series that provided an in-depth look into the water woes experienced in a rural community in Jamaica. The stories intimately focused on the lack of water in the community; examined how it affected the residents in the community; and how they have been trying to help themselves.
Ms. Ali and Mrs. Minott-Spence will each receive a cash prize and a trophy.
GWP-C believes that more value should be placed on water and media practitioners are key players in helping to build greater awareness on water issues among the general public. With the great response to its Media Awards on Water, GWP-C plans to hold the competition each year to continue its efforts to support Caribbean journalists in building greater awareness on critical water issues in the region.