Media shelves
Antigua, Nov 28, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government moved to consolidate the state media by announcing a new management team and merging several media entities.
Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Melford Nicholas, said the new initiative forms part of the Gaston Browne’s administration plans to restructure the national broadcasting service.
He said that the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service Radio and Television (ABS), Government Information Service and the New Media Unit will be consolidated into a single organization with effect from December 1.
“The public is holding the government and by extension its departments to a much higher standard than in previous years and with the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service being the face of the nation, the demand for better quality programming and production and a higher level of professionalism is very great,” Minister Nicholas said..
The key features of the first phase one of the restructuring programme are appointments to managerial positions with former banker Mrs. Erna-Mae Brathwaite appointed as the new general manager of the national broadcasting service.
The other appointments include Trevor Parker as Director of Technical Services; Everton Barnes as the Director of News and Current Affairs and Alex Nicholas as the Director of Government Information Services.
“This new corporate structure is being implemented to create departments of excellence within ABS. This will ensure that the organization becomes the new standard for broadcasting not only in Antigua and Barbuda but the wider Caribbean.
“In realizing the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of making Antigua and Barbuda an economic powerhouse, we must be in a position to share our successes with the wider world at the highest of standards,” Nicholas said.
In addition to the restructuring at the management level, ABS Television will roll out one of its new programmes under the new structure on December 1 with a 7 a.m. news magazine programme called Antigua Barbuda Today.
