The Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) has been urged to build on its success at this year’s Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Media Awards in Guyana after capturing seven awards and a special mention, as Barbados dominated the regional competition with 15 awards and eight special mentions overall.
At a special presentation on Wednesday to recognise award-winners from BGIS, the National Transformation Initiative (NTI) and Barbados Community College (BCC), Minister of Information Gregory Nicholls noted the information service’s improvement from five awards and three special mentions last year.
Nicholls said: “This time we converted the special mentions into actual awards along with one special mention. So I expect by next year we will double in this because you’ve done a little bit of an improvement this year, so next year I’m expecting us to work together. Notice I said for us to leave the gap between you and the competition so far behind that they don’t worry about these awards in 2028.”
The awards demonstrated that state media can achieve high standards of creativity and truth, the information minister said.
“GIS has aided in bridging the gap between the state and citizens. We all grew up hearing a lot of the programmes of GIS almost naturally on the radio and on television, seeing them a lifetime. So many of these honours, which span digital content, public service announcements, television, radio, and cultural reporting, prove that state media can set high standards for creativity and truth and meet and exceed your standards as well.”
The information minister also highlighted the role of GIS in protecting and telling the Barbadian story, describing institutions important to the country’s “cultural defence”.
“I’ve been emphasising that the GIS like a number of other institutions in Barbados, the National Cultural Foundation, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, are all important institutions in our cultural defence as a people. While other institutions overseas and abroad may offer skill and size and resources that are able to do things more efficiently. They’re not going to tell the authentic Barbadian story. They’re not going to be able to secure any legacy and what we as Barbadian people have achieved. They’re not going to be able to tell us objectively what is fact and what is fiction, what is news and information from disinformation and misinformation.”
CBU President Anthony Greene also praised the GIS and other Barbadian award-winners for making history in the media awards.
CBU President Anthony Greene. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham)
He said: “This is not a statement to overlook. This is testimony that government information services do good media work, that is to be applauded, that is to be recognised and acknowledged and of course, it, like I said, led the charge of Barbados for the first time in the modern era, the CBU Awards Barbados dominated the regional competition in a number of trophies and certificates won, and it was ably supported by first-time entrants as well.”
Greene also highlighted the Barbados Community College, noting that the CBU introduced student categories for the first time and BCC was represented among the winners.
“[It] gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the work of the Barbados Community College because academia and media plays a critical part to the continuity of a sector that is critical to our democracies.”
Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Stein Hansen also congratulated the winners, saying the results reflected the quality of work being produced across the island.
“This speaks to the quality of the work being produced in newsrooms and studios across the island. I’m especially proud that for the first time, the United Nations presented the [Sustainable Development Goals] Champion award. We launched this award to recognise the stories being told across the Caribbean media on climate action, gender equality, health, and economic opportunity- essential work in service of our shared future.”
Minister of Home Affairs and Information Gregory Nicholls and Caribbean Broadcasting Union President Anthony Greene join representatives of the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), National Transformation Initiative (NTI) and Barbados Community College (BCC) as they showcase their awards and special mentions from the recently held 37th CBU Media Award. Barbados captured 15 awards and eight special mentions overall. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham)
The GIS awardees were:
- Paula Harper-Grant and Rommel Cumberbatch, who won Best Public Service Advertisement – Digital for Bees in Agriculture.
- Paula Harper-Grant and Andre Olton, who won Best Public Service Advertisement – Radio for Encouraging Good Hand Hygiene.
- Paula Harper-Grant and Rommel Cumberbatch, who won Best Public Service Advertisement – Television for Christmas Praedial Larceny.
- Mikul Elcock, Aisha Reid, Andre Olton, Anthony Husbands, Stephanie St. Hill, Aaron Greenidge, Fabian Belgrave and Sharon Austin-Gilmore, who won Financial Literacy Journalism – Television for Money Matters: Navigating Your Financial Future.
- Sheena Forde-Craigg and Tyson Henry, who won Excellence in Media Coverage of Caribbean Arts and Culture – Print for Beyond Buns and Flying Fish.
- Mikul Elcock – Best Director – Television.
- Andre Olton – Best Sound Engineer – Radio.
- Sheena Forde-Craigg and Tyson Henry, who received a special mention for Best News Story – Print for Tourism, Airlift, Accolades and Arrivals.
The National Transformation Initiative also received a special mention in the SDG Champion category for its digital entry, Interview with STARR Bajan – Janelle Skinner.
Barbados Community College student Victoria Boyce receiving a special mention in the Best Student Item – Digital category for Female Students Stepping Into Male Spaces.
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