Reporters are truth- Granger seekers, supports capacity-building for media corps

PRESIDENT David Granger yesterday pledged monetary support from the government to the Guyana Press Association (GPA) to aid training programmes and workshops, which will build capacity in the press corps. The President made this announcement to members of the media who were present at a Media Brunch hosted on the lawns of State House even as he committed to building a stronger relationship between the State and the media.

President Granger also indicated that there are no strings attached to the financial support, and said that a free and unfettered press is critical to the development of Guyana. He called on the media to truthfully and critically examine the work of his administration, so that they can help the government to improve its performance.

“…I am committed to the media because I believe that, as a government, we couldn’t afford to be without the media; truthful media, even aggressive media…. The State is not going to become involved in journalism. It will provide the platform on which young journalists can learn their profession… I would like to pledge hard money in support of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) in 2016. Once the GPA is prepared to mount these seminars at least once per quarter, the State will help without any intervening in the actual programme or doctrine,” President Granger told the media operatives present.

He added that he does not intend to head an administration that is not open to criticism. “You write the truth and help the government to improve its performance. I won’t like to be the head of a government which is not subject to criticism…. We want to know the truth and we will correct our performance,” the President said.

Reminiscing on his years as a journalist, President Granger said it is important that persons in any field be trained, and that they abide by certain ethical standards. He noted that journalists are no exception, since it is a profession like any other.

TORCH
Pointing out that the GPA has as part of its logo a torch, President Granger said that it is this torch that all journalists must use in their quest for stories and information.

“That’s the torch, the torch of truth; and journalism is not you lying down in a hammock and dreaming up a story. You have to go out and find out what the truth is, so when you write, you don’t write based on surmise or conjecture; you write what you are prepared to defend. And people have to be trained to write the truth,” he said.

Outlining his hopes for this year, the President expressed the wish for a stronger relationship to be built between his government and the media.

“I hope that the relationship between the State and the media will be further developed based on mutual respect,” he said.

The Media Brunch was for years regarded as a tradition by past Presidents. However, the event had not been held for a number of years. President Granger has committed to hosting the brunch at least at the beginning of every year.

The event was attended by several ministers of government, including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence; Minister for Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes; Minister of Business, Dominic