– PSC
CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Mr. Gerry Gouveia said 2009 has been a challenging year for the world, Guyana and his Roraima Group of companies.

However, he said the PSC conducted a study on the effects of the global economic crisis locally and found that, while it had some effects on some, the export companies and wood sector and so on, the economists concluded that those in Guyana are affected by their own levels of inefficiency.

“Our own lack of aggression and innovation in moving our companies forward, in being more cost effective and more creative,” were other contributory factors, Gouveia reported at a function last week Tuesday.

He said while the Roraima Group has been very strong in those areas, it has faced its own challenges and, today, is very vibrant in the tourism sector.

Gouveia disclosed that, recently, three or four Kaieteur flights were conducted every day and the Arrowpoint Resort has been full of visitors and Guyanese who came back home for the holidays.

“The fact that we, at Roraima, have not been suffering, even though we have had our hardships, it is because of you the staff, who has been working very hard, going beyond the call,” he told employees, 18 of whom were honoured for outstanding performance at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown.

“The company will continue to grow from strength to strength. Firstly, for me, I would rather be nowhere else in the world and I chose to be here because I love Guyana and I love what we do and, for me, the creation of jobs is one of the greatest satisfactions I have,” Gouveia stated.

He declared: “This is not about making money for me and my family. This is about the creation of jobs and expanding this company to continue to contribute to the economic development of Guyana and we will continue to do that against whatever odds are put up against us.”

In that context, Gouveia said Roraima is looking at new ventures, including buying a new building to extend the room inventories for Duke Lodge; construction of a new hotel at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri and continuing to pursue the acquisition of the ‘Sky truck’ which is going to revolutionise local aviation.

“Those are objectives that, while they may have been deferred, are still on the cards and are going to happen for us,” he said.

Gouveia observed that there are some people who say tourism is a pipe dream in Guyana but attested it is not.

“It is happening and it is creating massive employment,” he said, revealing that Arrowpoint Nature Resort, now totally managed and operated by the residents of Santa Mission/Aratak Reservation, was full during the Christmas season.

According to him, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad is doing a good job marketing ‘Destination Guyana.