Government opens New State-of-the-Art Production Studio
 |
| Premier Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE tests the state-of-the-art equipment installed in the new GIS Production Studio as members of staff from the Department of Information and Public Relations and the Premier’s Office look on. |
Roadtown, Tortola- The Department of Information and Public Relations’ Production Studio was officially opened today, providing a new tool through which Government will disseminate information on its many programmes and policies.
The new facility at the Central Administration Complex comprises a fully air-conditioned video and audio recording studio, control room and digital library.
At today’s ceremony, Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE acknowledged the many problems experienced in making the production studio a reality and he applauded the work of those who persevered to ensure the completion of the facility.
Describing the launch of the studio as the beginning of great things, the Premier said “this will enable Government to disseminate more of its news in a quicker time.” According to the Premier, under whose portfolio, the Department of Information falls, “one of the failures of Government is that the news has not gotten out to the people in time.”
Recognising the new facility as an “important tool of Government”, the Premier added that, “it is important that we get the news out
 |
| Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Rosalie Adams speaking at opening of the GIS Production Studio at the Central Administration Complex on Thursday, 28 August, 2008 |
quickly and to be consistent with it.”
Pledging his full support, the Premier urged the staff of the department to use the studio to find creative ways to educate the public on relevant topics and highlighted climate change and the financial services sector as two areas that could be targeted to improve public education.
Like the Premier, Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Rosalie Adams gave her full support and commended the staff of the department for their continuously demonstrated commitment to delivering timely and accurate information on Government and its programmes.
Mrs. Adams noted that the centrality of the location will encourage more participation in the programmes hosted by the department. “It’s a win-win situation. I think it is going to be a means of us getting our messages out from one department to another all across the Government and all the various agencies,” Mrs. Adams told the gathering.
 |
| Premier Hon.Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE delivers remarks at the opening of the GIS Production Studio at the Central Administration Complex on Thursday, 28 August, 2008 |
Chief Information Officer Mrs. Geraldine Ritter-Freeman in her remarks explained that the studio is only the second phase of an overall project to improve the service of the department. The next phase will be the training of staff to use the state-of-the-art equipment installed in the studio.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Director of Communications in the Premier’s Office Ms. Sandra Ward who noted that the new studio will help to significantly reduce Government’s dependence on the private sector production facilities and the associated costs.
At today’s opening, tribute was paid to the late Bernard Green Skelton, a former Information Officer who served for 15 years in the department. A plaque in his honour has been mounted in the waiting area of the studio.
Following the opening, the Premier and other attendees were taken on a tour of the facility. The dedication of the facility was done by Minister Robert Wright, a former GIS staff member, who noted that the studio is simply a tool which must now be embraced and fully utilised by the people into whose hands it has been placed. ~~Adz:Right~~
The completion of the production studio is in keeping with the department’s mission to be a high quality accurate and timely provider of Government information to the public by using all available forms of media.
British Virgin Islands News