Renewing acquaintances and discussing CHOGM coverage strategies
Manoah Esipisu, deputy conference spokesperson for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009, listens to top editors during visit to host country Trinidad and Tobago
The familiar buzz was in the air. Click, click, click, of professionals accustomed to using only two fingers when at their work stations processing “copy” for the newspaper, and their growing online market. It is the newsroom of Trinidad Express Newspapers, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s main media companies.
I am here to see Managing Editor Ms Omatie Lyder, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s top media personalities. “I have been everywhere,” she tells me. “Editor for Sunday before my current job, other editing roles including for business, and a reporter.” “You know the place, and the country well,” I respond gingerly.
Soft spoken but firm, Ms Lyder goes straight to the point – and that very sharply reminds me that I am in a newsroom. What do I think about the crime in Trinidad and Tobago? In Port of Spain? Is it an issue for a senior Commonwealth official looking at logistics arrangements ahead of CHOGM? Will it be an issue during CHOGM?
“Well, security is a matter for the host government,” I respond. “Prime Minister (Patrick) Manning, according to newspapers, has acknowledged that crime is a growing problem but one that his government is firmly dealing with. The government recognises a problem, the government is dealing with that problem.”
“Did you come to my office by foot or you grabbed a taxi,” Ms Lyder asks to gauge the consistency of my responses. “Of course I walked,” I answer (it is only an 800-metre (yards) walk from the Hyatt Trinidad where I am staying to the Brian Lara Promenade, where Ms Lyder’s office is located.
“Well, I thought I should pay my respect to the top media town of the city seeing as I am deputy conference spokesperson at CHOGM 2009,” I say, changing the subject to the reason of my visit.
“Who is coming to Port of Spain,” Ms Lyder asks. “Most,” I respond. “The only clear exceptions are Fiji and Nauru. Fiji is currently suspended and Nauru has not paid its dues for a long time. Both will not be invited. Do not ask me about Zimbabwe. They are not members and non-members are now allowed to attend,” I offer.
Ms Lyder is looking at her watch, her mind has already switched to the tasks at hand. She is now talking on the phone about the next day’s editorials and I see that my place is back in the lift and out of the building.
My meeting with Anthony Wilson, editor of the Guardian newspaper, is shorter than I anticipated. After trying to fix it for three days, we meet and he announces that I have 10 minutes. His managing director has just fixed a new meeting in his schedule.
“When the Secretary-General schedules a meeting to which I am invited, I cancel others of course unless they involve a head of government,” I tell Mr Wilson.
A quick review of media arrangements follow.
“Are you pleased with what you have seen and heard,” he ventures.
“Indeed,” I reply. “My three priorities are: logistics, media facilitation, and messaging. I am here for the first two. The National Secretariat is working hard to ensure a smooth operation and I am there to assist if required and to provide advice and share experiences.”
With Rory Rostant, business day editor of Newsday and Anthony Fraser, consultant at state broadcaster CNMG it is all about renewing acquaintances and discussing CHOGM coverage strategies.
It turns out that Mr Rostant attended a fellowship in Dallas with an old friend of mine on the staff of the Nation Media Group in Kenya. I am an instant hit.