On Thursday, October 29, at the Government Administration Building, Commissioner William Marlin signed an agreement with the two daily newspapers—The Daily Herald and the Today. The agreement stipulates that government buys a full page in their respective newspapers for Government’s information.
This full page will appear 4 times a week for a period of one year, and it is to provide information from the Island Territory to the public in a structured manner.
The agreement is beneficial to government, Commissioner Marlin said, in that it saves government money over the period and it provides information in a more timely and organized way.
Because of the constitutional changes and the need to provide much information to the public in the form of—advertisements, notices, public announcements, job vacancies, price comparisons by VOSEC, public biddings, business licenses, or any type of other information—it is more effective. Readers don’t have to go searching for government’s information.
The public can go directly to the government page and know exactly what news is being offered and/or coming from government.
Managing Director Hilbert Haar signed on behalf of the Today Newspaper; Paul de Windt, the Daily Herald.
The Department of the Government Information Service is charged with coordinating with departments to disseminate information as well as providing general information to the newspaper so that they may publish the news.
During the year, the program will be evaluated and a determination will be made about the continuance of the agreement.
The full page ads, which will be in black and white, will appear on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday—days when there is the highest readership.
The yearly cost is Naf. 186.561,79.