The Guardian School of Journalism will help the profession of journalism and the field of media in T&T says Norman Sabga, chairman of the ANSA McAL Group. He also called the University of the West Indies (UWI) the “intellectual brain” of the country and the region. “We are very proud of growing that intellectual capacity in the country and region. The Guardian Media Group is the largest in T&T and we have been sending journalists abroad for many years for specialised training.
“With the growth of the Guardian School of Journalism which will look at all arms of the media, it will be a huge development for the growth of the media in video, print and voice,” he said.
Sabga spoke yesterday at the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding between UWI and the ANSA McAL Group at the 10th Floor, Tatil Building, Maraval Road, Port-of-Spain.
ANSA McAL Group will fund the construction of a building that will house three schools, the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, the Anthony N Sabga School of Entrepreneurship, and the Guardian Media School of Journalism.
Sabga hopes that the School of Entrepreneurship will go beyond just producing executives but will produce executives who can run businesses efficiently. “We want executives who will continue to grow the economy and the country and the region. That is why we have gotten involved in this programme,” he said.
Clement Sankat, principal of UWI who also spoke, said the ANSA McAL Group continues to contribute to the human resources of the region. “They have contributed through a very generous donation to the UWI to construct the Anthony N Sabga Building. “This building will be located at the centre of our campus. Our new programme of journalism has just been revised and the journalism programme will begin in August of next year,” he said.
He said the School of Entrepreneurship will create “transformational leaders” as this is important in creating a new economy that is private sector driven. “In terms of T&T’s development we have been looking too much to the state for leadership in almost all sectors. “It is important that the role of the state provides the enabling environment for private sector led growth that ensures productivity and competitiveness,” he said.
Sankat also said dependence on the state is growing day by day and this is not good for the economy. “We are seeing what is happening in our economy, falling prices for oil and gas and we have heard firm statements from the Finance Minster on the matter. It is time T&T wakes up and shift gears and direction to diversify the economy. What obtains now is unsustainable,” he said.