Govt. blocks NCN Senior Radio announcer from participating at media workshop

Govt. blocks NCN Senior Radio announcer from participating at media workshop

The Government of Guyana on Friday blocked Assistant Production Manager for Radio at the state-owned National Communications Network, Michella Abraham-Ali from making a presentation on the role of women in the media at a U.S Embassy sponsored journalism workshop.

News Source understands that Abraham-Ali who has in the past attended U.S based training programmes sponsored by the Embassy, was told by senior Management at NCN that approval had not been granted by “higher up” for her to attend and make a presentation at the forum.

Reports indicate that it may have been Information Liaison at the Office of the President Kwame McCoy who initially indicated to the NCN management that the senior radio announcer would not be granted approval.

McCoy is a Director on the Board of NCN and has been consistently accused of meddling in the day-to-day operations of the state-owned media houses.

Reports suggest that Abraham-Ali was told by a senior Office of the President Official that approval was not granted by the Office of the President because it was not informed in a timely manner about the invitation for her to participate in the workshop. NCN’s management was first told of the invitation for her to participate in the workshop two weeks ago and the senior announcer on Monday officially wrote Management reminding them of the request for her to make a presentation at the Friday session of the workshop.

The U.S Embassy was informed on Friday afternoon just hours before she should have made her presentation to the young journalists, that she will no longer be able to do so.

The training programme continued with Senior Reporter of the Stabroek News, Samantha Alleyne-Williams telling young journalists of the role and challenges  of women in the media. Abraham-Ali’s presentation was expected to be done along with Williams.

The move by the Government to block a senior state media manager from participating in and making a presentation at a journalism training programme comes less than two weeks after the Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall challenged media operatives to seek out more training and to take advantage of training programmes. It also comes at a time when NCN is getting ready to welcome a new Chief Executive Officer.

In the past, while touting press freedom in Guyana, the government has blocked journalists attached to the state media from participating in training programmes, including programmes sponsored and supported by the U.S Embassy, by the Canadian High Commission and by the Guyana Press Association.

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