“The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is thrilled to support this journalism workshop in Trinidad and Tobago. This initiative is vital for strengthening journalistic integrity and promoting accurate, unbiased, data-driven reporting in the region. Through these efforts, we aim to empower journalists with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the ever-evolving media landscape and contribute to a more informed and engaged society,” said Regional Representative, USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Mervyn Farroe.

Resident Representative for UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Limya Eltayeb, emphasized the broader impact of this initiative: “Responsible and ethical journalism is essential to stimulate public discourse and inform policy and programming. This media training therefore not only equips journalists with the tools to tell these stories accurately and empathetically but also contributes to the overall goal of a safer and more just Caribbean.”

President of the Media Institute of the Caribbean, Kiran Maharaj, remarked on the importance of both the media assessment and subsequent training: "This report is significant in that it proves the need for more robust perspectives on issues around trafficking in persons and citizen security. We know that relevant and innovative reporting techniques employed with solutions and constructive journalism can create traction for meaningful change, while investigative and humanitarian journalism casts the spotlight on societal implications. Therefore, these workshops are the ideal setting to have meaningful discussion towards ensuring more effective reporting, as we continue to work towards better and more accessible data for journalists."