following the association’s election held last Sunday at the Theatre Guild at Parade Street, Georgetown. Wharton, who has worked in journalism for over 20 years, will serve a two-year term. She replaces Nazima Raghubir, who served as GPA president for seven years.

The GPA, founded in 1945, is the sole representative body for media workers in Guyana and is the second-oldest media membership and advocacy organisation in the English-speaking Caribbean. Wharton, a senior journalist with Capitol News, began her media career in 2005 after completing a three-month internship at Prime News through the University of Guyana. Over the years, she has reported extensively on crime, politics, business, and sports. In 2010, she received the Non-Print Sports Journalist of the Year award for her 2009 coverage. Currently, she produces the business magazine Business InspireGY and hosts the radio programme Business Insight.

A total of 61 media representatives participated in the elections, voting to fill key executive positions including president, vice president, treasurer, assistant treasurer, and four voting members. While several returning members were elected to new positions, this year’s elections also saw the emergence of fresh faces taking the spotlight within the executive body. The previous executive included Nazima Raghubir as president, Rawle Toney as vice president, Svetlana Abrams as treasurer, Ariana Gordon as assistant treasurer, and Iva Wharton as secretary. Voting members then included Denis Chabrol, Nyjel Fraser, Alva Solomon, and Marcelle Thomas.

Now, Wharton was nominated for the presidency alongside fellow senior journalist Rawle Toney, winning the vote by 49 points. Other elected officials include; vice president: Ariana Gordon, treasurer: Svetlana Abrams, assistant treasurer: Oluatoyin Alleyne, and voting members: Gordon Mosely, Shervin Belgrave, Royston Drakes, and Miranda La Rose. Wharton received a warm welcome as she took the stage to deliver her acceptance speech. She expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in her, noting: “I am grateful for the opportunity afforded to me to serve as president of the Guyana Press Association. Both Ms. Johnson and Mr. Chabrol contacted me and told me they were going to nominate me to serve—you know how persuasive they can be. I told them if nominated, I would not decline.”  (Kaieteur News)