—McCoy urges young creators to seize digital training opportunities

THE government’s ongoing investment in human capital remains a central pillar of Guyana’s development agenda, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, affirmed on Friday as he addressed participants of the Guyana Media and Communication Academy’s nine-week intensive videography, video-editing and photography programme.

Speaking during a visit to the training session at the Racquet Centre Boardroom in Georgetown, Minister McCoy said the administration views initiatives like this as tangible proof of the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities, strengthening livelihoods and equipping citizens to thrive in a modern digital economy.

“For us, this is what it should be in respect to the role we play as a government to provide this type of leadership, where we are investing in people and their education and their future livelihood, careers. That is what it ought to be. That’s how a government can be impactful,” he said.

The minister highlighted that Guyana’s rapid transformation requires a population equipped with the skills demanded by global industries, and the digital landscape in particular.

However, he warned that without strong investment in people, the pace of national development cannot be sustained.

“You can’t really survive today successfully as a country unless you transition fully to becoming a digital society. Your content creation and the data analysis and your social media management, alongside the strong communication, adaptability and critical thinking, are very important,” he told the young creators, media workers and aspiring storytellers who are participating in the programme.

He made it clear that the Government’s investment is not simply about training for training’s sake but about building long-term earning power and expanding the professional marketplace for young Guyanese.

“There is an absolute need for those skills and we have a shortage… a great shortage for these skills,” he noted, citing digital media, data literacy, cybersecurity awareness and social-media management as high-growth areas.

Minister McCoy also pointed to the real economic value of the Academy’s training, telling participants not to underestimate what they are receiving at no cost.

“Programmes like these… you’d probably be paying US$2,000 or more if you had to sign up in any other part of the world and you won’t even get half of what is being taught here,” he said.

He said this initiative fits within the broader national strategy to uplift Guyanese, through free university opportunities, expanded technical and vocational programmes, digital-readiness initiatives, SME financing reforms and improved access to healthcare and public services.

“All of these things add up. They add up to a value and that’s our investment in our people,” he said.

The minister encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity, reminding them that the country’s development depends on a new generation of thinkers and innovators who are prepared to lead in a more competitive, technologically advanced world.

“Now is the time to buckle up, to use all your energy, all your power. This is the time when it requires our greatest push… to get us to a place where we can say, ‘yes, we have done it’,” he said.

The trainees walked the minister through camera handling, showed him how to balance a three-point lighting setup and guided him through framing a clean shot.

The Minister then stepped into the role of director, calling basic cues, arranging simple movements and getting a feel for managing a shot. After that, he moved into the editing station, where participants introduced him to the fundamentals of video editing.

Minister McCoy clipped footage, explored the timeline and got a practical sense of how raw visuals are shaped into a finished story. The room was filled with energy as everyone enjoyed the minister learning, experimenting and laughing along with them.

For the trainees, the interaction reinforced the importance of the programme and the recognition their efforts are receiving.

The training, coordinated by National Training Coordinator Marcia Hope, continues as part of the Guyana Media and Communication Academy’s mandate to build a strong, skilled communications workforce capable of telling Guyana’s story with accuracy, creativity and professionalism.