LOCAL journalists benefited from training in oil, gas and energy transparency matters when the Guyana Press Association (GPA) hosted a two-day training seminar at the Cara Lodge over the weekend.

President of the GPA Nazima Raghubir, in her opening address on Saturday, said the training was the first in a series that the press association intends to foster in an attempt to bolster the capacity of local journalists in these sectors.

Furthermore, the overarching aim, according to Raghubir, is to foster the implementation of “Oil and Gas desks” in each media house that would allow for specialised reporting on the emerging, technical field.

Veteran journalist Denis Chabrol encouraged the journalists to uphold the ethics of journalism in their daily practice. Students of the Centre for Communications Studies of the University of Guyana (UG), who were also present, learned of the challenges faced by journalists in the profession through Chabrol’s presentation.

Former President of the Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers (ACM) and journalist, Wesley Gibbings presented on ‘Angles in Oil and Gas.’ The journalists and students all shared their interest in edifying themselves on the emerging industry.
“Everything is going to be permeated by oil and gas,” Gibbings stressed, as he explained that with the advent of the industry, socio-economic and political spheres would be influenced by the new resources.

He pointed out that the industry is made up of upstream, midstream and downstream activities. The journalist said typical areas of focus should include contracts, environmental impacts, engineering risks, findings, financial arrangements, inter alia. Gibbings, who is no stranger to Guyana, also shared that the industry is one which integrates many other industries, and as such journalists should be encouraged to also report on those areas.

Former Executive Director of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), Calvin Wilson presented on ‘Enhancing oil and gas transparency in developing nations’, where he gave the gathering much to think about in legal and financial matters. He also directed focus to the economic consequences that can be had from the mismanagement of the sector. Closing off the day was a highly interactive session with Business Editor and Oil and Gas correspondent for several international industry journals, Curtis Williams.

Williams told the journalists that when they report on the Oil and Gas Sector, the global context should be taken into consideration.

The training was made possible through a grant received by the GPA from the Open Society Foundation. In addition to the university students, it was attended by journalists from Guyana Chronicle, Stabroek News, Guyana Times, Kaieteur News, Prime News, the National Communications Network (NCN), Nightly News, Capitol News, Demerara Waves and News Room among other entities. The training continued on Sunday with journalists and students exploring various story ideas in the Oil and Gas Sector.