Online Guide to Antigua and Barbuda's Government Information and Services
Major Appointment at the State owned ABS

31st May 2016

Antigua and Barbuda's Broadcasting Services has announced a major appointment as part of its continued drive toward institutional strengthening and broadcast excellence.

The State-owned Entity has engaged the services of renowned Jamaican Broadcaster Garfield Burford as News and Current Affairs Consultant on a one year contract, effective June 1, 2016.

Mr Burford comes to the position on the back of an illustrious media career primarily at CVM Television in Jamaica where he was News and current affairs Manager. He spent close to 13 years at CVM during which he received two awards of Journalist of the year from the Press Association of Jamaica (2005 and 2007) for critically-acclaimed exploits in covering national and regional issues.

One of these awards was the corollary of an extensive examination of the threat posed by Islamic extremism in the Caribbean for the documentary 'Caribbean terror alert'. Garfield was also recognized regionally for his sterling coverage of the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

He also received an award for excellence for his pioneering work in covering the issue of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean by Co-hosting Live up: The Show with Antiguan Journalist Mitzi Allen. His regional accolades also include an award from the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, CBU.

Garfield will provide critical services to ABS during a period of significant change and exciting opportunities at the media Entity.

He will also assist the management of ABS in developing and improving the standards for gathering, preparing and delivering the respective News and Current Affairs Programmes.

Mr. Burford will also assist the management in identifying and recruiting a suitable candidate for the post of Director of News and Current Affairs which has been vacant since the end of 2015.

The Hon Melford Nicholas, Minister with responsibility for Broadcasting, in commenting on the development said, "The appointment of Mr. Burfod represents a significant milestone in the Ministry's pursuit, to transform ABS, until it becomes the new standard for Broadcast Media Services in Antigua and Barbuda".

Minister Nicholas anticipates that Mr. Burford's efforts, conjoined with the fforts of the other management and engaged employees at ABS will bring us closer to this realization during the course of his tenure.

For More Information Contact:
Jaquis Browne
Tel: (268) 468-4600 Ext. 4612
Tel: (268) 764-0223