GIS receives new equipment

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Parent Category: Dec 2011

Category: Week ending Dec 17th, 2011

Published on Monday, 19 December 2011 16:58

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The Government of China has made available to the Government Information Service (GIS) a quantity of television equipment to enhance its operation.

The set of equipment valued at EC $160,000.00 was presented on Tuesday to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas by the Resident Chinese Ambassador Xu Jianguo.

Prime Minister Thomas who requested the gift from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) admonished the staff of GIS to now become more dynamic and aggressive because in a competitive democracy, information is crucial.

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has constantly been accused for having poor public relations machinery in place.

Stating that information belongs to the people, Prime Minister Thomas said: “We have to let the people know what is going on, but if we do not have the capacity to really convey that information we could be in some difficulties”.

The Grenadian Leader spoke of the need for his three-year old government to inform the public about the activities, plans and projects being undertaken by the administration.

“So I hope that with this equipment, that would motivate and inspire those who working with GIS to really do the necessary work to let the people know (what is happening)” he said.

Ambassador Jianguo recalled that sometime during the month of May, Prime Minister Thomas spoke to him about sourcing some new equipment for the GIS.

The Chinese Ambassador said he made a personal visit to the GIS Office in the Ministerial Complex at the Botanical Gardens in St. George’s where he saw the outdated equipment.

He disclosed that there are still six items to be sourced from a list that was given to him and that China might consider providing some funds to GIS to source the six items.

The resident Chinese Diplomat expressed the hope that the set of new equipment would be able to play an important role in improving the quality of the work done by GIS.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Ministry with responsibility for Information, Senator Glen Noel who witnessed the presentation indicated that there is a dire need to strengthen the capacity of the GIS to enable it to be able to do its job in disseminating information to the General Public.

He spoke of the staff of GIS having making requests over a period of time about the need to have the requisite equipment that would allow them to perform their task much better.

However, the Junior Information Minister said his government hopes that the requisite attitude of the GIS staff goes with the equipment.

“Sometimes having more equipment, modern equipment may not necessarily (be) to improve productivity. The right attitude has to go with that (and( that will make the change,” he said.

Sen. Noel also showered appreciation to the PRC for “coming to our rescue once again.”

He said government values the relation that has been built over the years between Beijing and St. George’s.

“We are always grateful to the Government and people of China for the assistance they have given to the Government and people of Grenada over the years,” he said.

Director of GIS, Raymond Roberts who gave the vote of thanks said they have been hindered by lack of equipment in providing a much better service t the country.

Roberts said the demands of the government operated media house are awesome and the availability of only two cameras were stumbling acts.

He expressed confidence that members of his staff are keen to learn and to improve themselves while admitting that his department was severely criticized in the past for not being able to show the Grenadian Public the many things the government has done in office.

“Now that we have a wide array of equipment, I want to assure the Prime Minister that this would not just be a St. George’s GIS, but it would be a Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique GIS, able to carry as much information to the people as is possible,” Roberts said.

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