–Public Affairs Minister highlights

THE Government of Guyana remains resolute in its commitment to the press and its freedoms, as it has always been a cornerstone of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs Kwame McCoy has said.

Minister McCoy, during his address at a Climate Town Hall forum, which was held in observance of the 31st United Nations World Press Freedom Day, said Freedom of the Press has always been a cornerstone in the ideological outlook of the current administration, and it is not accidental that successive PPP/C governments have forged an enabling environment for Guyanese media operatives to work freely and thrive.

“Our commitment to the press and its freedoms remains resolute, and our government will continue to both facilitate and forge new frontiers of the opportunity for all its national growth,” he said.
Minister McCoy added that the government’s commitment to facilitating increased growth opportunities through capacity building for members of the media fraternity was heightened in 2022, when the region’s first public media and communication academy was launched.

This, he said, was done in collaboration with the Online learning platform, Coursera, at a significant cost to the government.
He further added that members of the media are also benefitting from internationally accredited academic scholarships, through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) platform and other programmes designed to build the capacity of those who are part of the media.

The minister indicated that the theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day is: “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis”, which is geared towards spotlighting the nexus between the global phenomenon of climate change and the criticality of the role played by the press in enabling understanding while also helping to shape the human response.

During the opening of the town hall forum, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat also delivered remarks, and highlighted Guyana’s commitment to dealing with climate and environmental issues by exploring natural resources while preserving the environment.

The minister said that while the country’s resources are being explored, the government will ensure that the revenues accrued will be used in a wise manner, and to facilitate transitioning to the use of mixed streams of energy.
The town hall forum also featured panel discussions and interactive sessions with various stakeholders, including Jamaica’s Minister of Information Robert Morgan, which focused on the importance of journalism in this era, and climate action moving into the future.