In deal with THAG…
GUYANA Telephone & Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T), continuing to demonstrate its commitment to support the development of tourism in this country, yesterday signed a $7.5M three-year agreement with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG). The deal was inked at GT&T’s Hadfield Street, Georgetown office, by its Marketing Director, Mr. Wystan Robertson and THAG President, Mr. Paul Stephenson, in the presence of THAG Executive Director, Ms. Treina Butts and GT&T Senior Marketing Officer, Ms. Rhonda Johnson.
Robertson said GT&T has been involved with THAG for quite some time, in a way that showed its support for tourism and the Private Sector that is involved in it.
He underscored the role that organisations such as THAG play in the development of that  sector.
“Right now, we have the Cricket World Cup (Twenty20) going on here, in Guyana, something in its own right as a tourist event,” Robertson said.
He went on: “But moreso, as Guyana, being the window to the Amazon, as well, something that our association, with the conservation of the natural resources of Guyana, is well known.”
In that context, Robertson alluded to the signing, last year, of another pact, with the Iwokrama conservation body.
“So, as a company, we have been quite involved in ensuring that resources that we feel are important to our tourism product are upheld and, as well, our support to the organisation that administers the private sector body that supports tourism in this country,” he pointed out.
Robertson emphasised that that covenant is yet a further demonstration of that commitment and it will see GT&T partnering on a number of initiatives, mostly from an administrative support standpoint, as well as in terms of infrastructure.
He said: “We are proud and pleased to be associated with the hospitality association and we look forward to continued and fruitful relations.”
Robertson said he thinks people often forget that THAG, as an organisation, is really one of those that brought the type of visibility to the tourism product here.
According to him, GT&T would like to see the industry, itself, grow and develop and there are a number of different areas that need to be looked at, such as promoting more sporting events.
He said, through this, they are looking to lift the profile of tourism locally and making the organisation a viable entity for entrepreneurs and persons within the tourism community in Guyana to partake in it.
Robertson said the company has had quite a tradition with the tourism sector in Guyana and reminded that GT&T has been a part of the Pakaraima Mountain Safari for some time now.
He said, along the routes to the Pakaraima, they have set up, in the remote villages, some rural long range radios (phone booths) for villagers and persons within those communities to be able to communicate with Georgetown and the world at large.
“We are also, right now, in the middle of engineering a solution as well to bring communication to the Kaieteur,” Robertson disclosed.
He said there has been a tradition where GT&T has been involved in tourism here and ensuring, too, that it maintains those communication links.

CHALLENGES

THAG President Stephenson acknowledged that the sector has changed, causing the new executive to look internally at how they needed to structure and address challenges and then at partnering.
He said they looked at the needs of THAG, as an organisation, not just over one year and identified where it is going.
“I think the discussions, more than negotiation, have really changed the focus of a twelve months handshake and partnership to a three-year commitment, where both sides work collectively to help develop the sector,” Stephenson said.
He thanked GT&T for its gesture and said he looks forward to the three-year partnership of working together.
Stephenson observed that this is probably the largest and most important endorsement that THAG has received in a number of years, making close to $7.5M available over the period.
“So this is tremendous support and recognition of a large company like GT&T looking at this organisation and partnering together to enhance the whole tourism sector,” he remarked.
Speaking about the ongoing cricket matches, Stephenson said: “To sign this agreement in the middle of a sporting event of this magnitude will certainly help promote Guyana and the partnering of the Private Sector and our organisation.”
Noting that people are looking at eco-tourism at the moment, he said tourism also relates to sports and good communication services are needed at any destination.
“The provision of top of the line, state-of-the-art services in the communication sector, which I think you guys are actually doing and you are enhancing with the fibre optic cable, that is a primary focus that tourists will look at,” Stephenson said.
He maintained that GT&T has a very important function to service the tourism sector and its support will, basically, be looking at administration and some marketing promotions.
Stephenson said his organisation is looking to increase its membership and bring in corporate sponsorship and, certainly, will be looking at the Government, in terms of assistance to attend international trade shows and the like.
Butts also agreed that, over the years, GT&T has shown a commitment to the development of tourism in this country and to THAG and it is a very memorable day for them.