President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has urged Caribbean media professionals to make greater use of global digital platforms to take regional content to international audiences, rather than viewing them as a threat to Caribbean identity.
The President made the call on Tuesday evening while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s (CBU) 57th Annual General Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
With platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Netflix exposing Caribbean audiences to an increasing volume of foreign content, President Ali argued that the region’s response should be to strengthen and promote its own cultural products.
“The answer to globalisation is not cultural isolation. It is cultural confidence,” he said.
Pointing to the international success of West Indian artistes, President Ali said there is already clear demand for Caribbean culture and content. However, he questioned whether regional broadcasters are doing enough to capitalise on that demand.
He noted that the CBU was established in 1970 to ensure Caribbean people could see their own lives, language and music represented in the media. According to Ali, that responsibility has become even more important in an era where virtually anyone can publish and distribute content.
The President said the Caribbean’s strength lies not in the size of its market, but in the uniqueness of its identity. He argued that regional broadcasters should therefore focus not only on the amount of international content entering the Caribbean, but also on increasing the reach of Caribbean content globally.
Ali also stressed the importance of investing in skilled journalists and producers, contending that the region’s ability to tell its own stories will ultimately depend on its people rather than the platforms being used.
The CBU’s 57th AGA is being held from August 17 to 19 under the theme “Caribbean Media & AI,” bringing together media, communications and technology professionals from across the region.
It is the first time in more than a decade that Guyana is hosting the CBU’s Annual General Assembly.
