TV journalist aims to bridge gap between Guyana, Barbados
WITH the Guyana economy improving and people generally having a larger portion of disposable income, more Guyanese are considering the nearby Caribbean islands as holiday destinations. Janet John-Dorie, a producer/journalist with STVS Channel Four in Georgetown, has just returned home from a productive one-week visit to Barbados where she filmed popular sights and activities which may be of interest to Guyanese. Two highlights of her stay, she said, were a lunch cruise along the island's scenic west coast on board the coastal cruise vessel mv Harbour Master, and a dive to view the marine life on a reef on the Atlantis mini-submarine. Both trips were made possible through the kind courtesy of the firms' management. Ms John-Dorie who is the producer/presenter of the show `Look, Listen and Change' on Channel Four, also shot footage of the second Annual Cultural Extravaganza featuring Barbadian and Indian artists. That get together was organised by the Barbados-India Friendship Society at the Sherbourne Convention Centre outside the capital, Bridgetown. Among those she interviewed were Society member, Mr Kiko Chatrani, and with Olga Lopes-Seale worked for Radio Demerara during the 1960s. John-Dorie is probably the only hands-on TV journalist who does her own camerawork. "The aim of showing the material from Barbados in Guyana is to portray Barbados as a place where efforts are being made to build a multi-racial society and where Guyanese from all walks of life can come for an enjoyable holiday. My own weekly show and I think the whole station's outlook, is to enhance a better understanding of all cultures and to promote oneness among all races." John-Dorie, however expressed the wish that the relevant Barbadian authorities could help build on the already beneficial visits of Guyanese to the island by portraying it to Guyanese as a people-friendly destination. She observed: "Unfortunately, Barbados has been getting some bad press in Guyana as a place where some Guyanese are made to feel less than welcome when they arrive at the airport. I myself have visited the island several times and haven't had any trouble, but there are many reports of innocent Guyanese travellers coming to Barbados on legitimate holiday and all their papers in order and then being put on the next plane back to Georgetown." John-Dorie's itinerary while in Barbados was organised by the Guyana Consul Office in Bridgetown which is also working to get more `Bajans' vacationing in Guyana.
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