The Guyana Press Association (GPA) marked World Press Freedom Day 2026 by honouring six titans of the local media industry with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The ceremony, which recognized over two centuries of combined experience, served as a platform for former Stabroek News Editor-in-Chief Anand Persaud to propose a state subvention for the GPA to safeguard the profession’s future.
Addressing the gathering, Persaud argued that the government’s vast oil revenues should be utilized to support the country’s oldest media representative body.
“I will also suggest that an annual subvention should be made by the state to the Guyana Press Association because surely we have enough money and we’re earning enough money from the oil sector for the government to make a subvention to an organization as old as this,” Persaud stated.
He further emphasized the need to protect free speech from legislative overreach, specifically citing the Cybersecurity Act. “There have to be limits and lines drawn in terms of cybersecurity and cyber conversations but this Cybersecurity Act can be used to infringe upon free speech and we must not have that.”
Reflecting on the evolution of the craft, Persaud contrasted his 1989 start on a typewriter with the modern era of “agentic artificial intelligence.” While acknowledging the power of tools like ChatGPT, he issued a stern warning to the younger generation of reporters.
“It is a sacred responsibility of reporters to ensure that they don’t become willing accomplices to artificial intelligence in the pursuit of stories that can only be told through the use of human sources and rigorous investigative work,” he said.
He cited the Trinidad Express’ recent investigative success, which utilized air traffic control data to uncover U.S. military movements during the 2026 operation dubbed “Absolute Resolve,” as a prime example of high-level data journalism.
The highlights of the evening were the presentations to six individuals who have shaped the Guyanese narrative through print, radio, and sports reporting.
Samantha Alleyne: A 28-year veteran of the print media, Alleyne was lauded for her focus on health, gender-based violence, and marginalized communities. Her work has earned her multiple National PAHO Health Journalism Awards.
Roderick Baird: With 36 years in radio and electronics, Baird was recognized for his “behind the scenes” work at NCN, including the commissioning of regional radio stations in Mabaruma and Lethem.
Claude David: A media professional for 37 years, David transitioned from a sound engineer at GBC to become a respected sports editor at Kaieteur News.
Leon Horatio: With an incredible 51 years in print journalism, Horatio spent his entire career at the Chronicle, where he became the definitive voice of Guyanese cricket and horse racing.
Burt Wilkinson: Nearing his 50th year in the industry, Wilkinson’s career has spanned the Guyana Chronicle, Stabroek News, and the Associated Press (AP). He was notably fired from the Chronicle in 1986 for refusing to disclose his sources, a testament to his professional integrity.
Miranda LaRose: In a surprise final award, LaRose was honored for her “nitty-gritty and hardcore reporting.” Persaud recalled her bravery during the 2005 Great Flood, stating, “she waded into water without concern… throughout the period without concern for the fact that she was a mother of four.”
The ceremony concluded with reminders from historic and contemporary figures on the necessity of a free press. Persaud closed with a quote from philosopher Hannah Arendt: “The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen… What makes it possible for a totalitarian or any other dictatorship to rule is that people are not informed.”
The GPA noted that while only six were honoured tonight, their careers represent the “scaffolding” of democracy in Guyana, providing a charge for the next generation of journalists to carry the mantle of accountability.
