Called upon to report on the affairs of the bauxite, gold and even sugar industries, most seasoned reporters in Guyana would be able to do justice. But those are industries which have existed in Guyana for ages. The Oil and Gas industry, however, is an entirely different ballgame.
Guyana has a nascent Oil and Gas sector, but the developmental pace of this industry is being called record-breaking.
Recognizing that journalists need help in the area of writing about oil and gas so as to adequately report on these developments, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) organized a two-day “Oil, Gas and Energy transparency training” for the media fraternity.
The training was held yesterday and today at Cara Lodge.
Presentations were made by local veteran journalist, Denis Chabrol; renowned Trinidadian journalist Wesley Gibbings; Business Editor and oil and gas correspondent, Curtis Williams; and former CFATF Director, Calvin Wilson.
The training covered a range of topics including enhancing oil and gas transparency in developing nations, reporting on the petroleum sector in the good times and the bad, cultivating ethical reporting, and the oil and gas sector as a cross-cutting story.
There were also discussions centered on advancing the media’s role in oil and gas and facilitators allowed time for the sharing of challenges faced by reporters. In many cases, solutions were offered.
Reporters were also enlightened about some angles that have so far not, been explored in Guyana.
GPA’s President, Nazima Raghubir dubbed the training a success.
She indicated that close to 40 persons benefitted and most media houses were represented.
Guyana Standard is one of the media outlets that made use of the opportunity.
The press association had also invited correspondents from Essequibo, Linden, and Berbice. Hotel accommodations were provided for those who made use of the opportunity. University of Guyana students were also in attendance.
Raghubir said that the Open Society Foundation provided sponsorship for the training and two others in the pipeline.
She said, “GPA put up a grant proposal and Open Society offered to fund the training in three parts. All three parts aim at building capacity.”
Open Society is an international grantmaking network founded by business magnate, George Soros. Open Society Foundations financially supports civil society groups around the world, with a stated aim of advancing justice, education, public health and independent media.
