GINA will soon be history- PM wants one “highly professional” PR unit

May 12, 2017 News

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
The Government Information Agency (GINA) will soon be history. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is looking to merge GINA with the Department of Public Information to form a “highly trained and professional” Public Relations (PR) unit.
This was revealed during a recent interview with Kaieteur News.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo said that he is working on a White Paper on Public Information (a government or other authoritative report giving information or proposals on an issue) that is to be taken to the National Assembly.
“The paper is intended to be presented to the National Assembly, so for the first time you will have clear guidelines on what public information is all about. Secondly, there will be consultation sessions. I circulated a memo among all the public relations persons working in the state ministries, departments, units and agencies. I circulate it to them because I believe they must be involved,” said Nagamootoo.
The Prime Minister said that the merger is part of the White Paper. He also indicated that the merger has already been authorized by Cabinet.
“I always believe in a small, highly professional and trained public relations unit. I believe they do not need several (government public relations representatives) all over the place. One centralized unit is just fine and will be efficient.”
Nagamootoo explained that once the merger has taken place, government will then be able to use the White Paper as a go-to document for best practices and standards.
“It will be used as a guide to say, well, these are what we believe your responsibilities are; this is what government thinks public information is about and this is how you should go about it, in terms of the platforms you use.”
Nagamootoo was keen to point out that it would not be in terms of content. He said that the operation will take on a phased approach. He said that the merger and White Paper will be done simultaneously and will happen “as soon as possible.”
The Prime Minister said that the White Paper will not speak about weaknesses in the system and the need to correct it.
“The paper is not to do any analysis. It is a forward-looking guideline to say what public information is and why you need to treat it as a matter of national importance.”
He hinted that the paper will also have implications for private media entities.
Nagamootoo said that private television stations will have to carry emergency notices. “It (the White Paper) is really trying to get the cooperation among all media, all forms, in a national effort to make people more informed.”
He said though that outside of the White Paper, “I recognize that the state radio and television, in my opinion, they need to maximize their role in propagating public information. I believe they have a lot more to do in that respect.”

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