Insurance and financial services group Sagicor Financial Co. Ltd donated eight boxes of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the media fraternity today.
During the presentation at Sagicor’s Wildey, St Michael branch, president of the Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers (BARJAM) Keith Goddard said this gesture was an indication the company had an appreciation for media workers.
“Sometimes the media tends to be forgotten because of the work that it does,” he said. “Whether it is COVID, whether it’s a fire, whatever hazard it is, the media is expected to be there. People tend to forget that we have responsibilities to our families, homes and to ourselves.
“I think that the recognition by Sagicor as the first corporate organisation to recognise the media and to offer these PPE . . . places on record the importance Sagicor sees in the media and our work.
“I would hope that other entities across Barbados recognise the important role that the media plays, not only to provide stories, information and facts . . . but certainly that we have families, that we have lives. Our lives are at risk everyday that we go out on the road, even those who work in the office, sometimes based on your story your life could be at risk.”
General secretary Emmanuel Joseph said this an important partnership, adding that 249 workers would benefit from the initiative.
“While the front liners will receive PPEs now, all other media workers across Barbados, who do not necessarily come face-to-face with the public daily or often, will also benefit later on,” he said.
“We were able to extrapolate two categories from media heads or their representatives. List one is made up of 98 frontline workers who comprise news editors, reporters, photographers and videographers.
“List two is the extended media workers and it is made up of 151 persons comprising sub-editors, sales and advertising, front office, circulation, production, on-air personnel, technology, traffic, graphics, reception, press room, administration and editorial drivers,” he said.
Sagicor’s vice president, customer experience and sales strategy Tracey Knight-Lloyd, said that since the world changed in March last year, there was a greater appreciation and understanding of the role played by a number of professionals and service providers on the front line.
“Regardless of the situation, the risk or the danger, the media could always be found in the field, exhibiting your commitment to bringing us the news and keeping us updated and Sagicor has always had tremendous respect for the media.” (SB)