Approximately 20 persons from various communities in Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), are being trained to work as broadcasters in the recently commissioned Radio Bartica.

The training which began last week is being facilitated by Communication Specialist, Dr. Rovin Deodat at the Bartica Learning Resource Centre.

According to Dr. Deodat, the main objective of the exercise is to prepare the in-house broadcasters to produce daily, local programming for the radio station.

He explained that the participants, being trained are those who were selected by the Regional Administration.

“They’re learning the ABCs of broadcasting; they’re learning about voice, pronunciation, reading and presentation, research, interviewing among other things,” Dr. Deodat said.

Currently, Radio Bartica is broadcasting content from Voice of Guyana (VOG). Dr. Deodat explained that by the end of the training “Those who would have done well in will move into broadcasting production seat”, adding “Once they do that, each day of the week they can provide two full hours of local programming on the radio station. The other 16 hours will come from the VOG”.

Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford is eager for the day when he could listen to Radio Bartica and “hear our local voices broadcasting news or local programmes.”

“I’m happy that I’m Regional Chairman when this radio station was established. No longer will our residents be starved of information because we will have information from internationally and locally as well,” Bradford enthused.

Deputy Mayor, Bartica, Nageshwari Lochanprashad, (aka Kamal Persaud) shared similar sentiments. Lochanprashad who is a board member of National Communication Network (NCN) noted that “It is important to have local people right here to do local programming. It is pivotal for us to know what is going on in our community and sharing ideas. And I’m very happy to see so many people participating,” the Deputy-Mayor said.

The broadcasters training forms part of the Regional Radio Stations of Guyana programme designed by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in collaboration with that National Communications Network (NCN) and the Regional Administrations or Village Councils.

Under this programme five radio stations have since been commissioned; in Mabaruma, Region One, Bartica, Region Seven, Mahdia, Region Eight, and Lethem and Aishalton, Region Nine. A station slated to be commissioned in Orealla, Region Six before the end of the month.

The establishment of these community radio stations is executed in phases. Phase one involves the construction of the studio, transmission hut and making sure residents receive signal on the radio, has been completed. Phase two covers the training of local broadcasters.

Chief of Staff at the Office of the Prime Minister, Omar Bissoon explained that, “training is ongoing in several areas, Mahdia etc., and we will eventually reach Aishalton in a few weeks.”

The training exercise in Bartica will run for the next six weeks, after which it is expected that the local programming will commence by May.

Source: DPI