The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) company’s outgoing Chief Executive officer (CEO), Major General (Retired), Joseph Singh on Monday handed over catering equipment worth $131,000 to the charitable organisation, Beacon Foundation, to assist in its retooling initiative as it seeks to expand its range of programmes. The CEO said the function was more special since it is his final week at the helm of the Company. He has been visiting various locations to say his farewells and to express his gratitude to staff personally for their cooperation during his tenure at the helm of the telephone company.
The assistance, according to the CEO, is totally justified, since the humanitarian work of the Foundation, which was founded 25-years ago, and which caters for the needs of the homeless and destitute, is a worthy beneficiary of the Company’s help.
The CEO said, the initiative is a demonstration of the Company’s support for the work of the Foundation particularly with regard to its ongoing programme of assistance which includes a school feeding aspect in the Lethem and South Rupununi communities where its founder Mr. Clairmonte Lye and his family resides.
Among the initiatives of the foundation are assistance of groups in developing cottage industries which process cassava and cashew nuts, a scholarship programme and support to the Cancer Society.
Beacon Foundation’s Head Clairmonte Lye said that it runs a hospice programme where three trained nurses visit terminally ill cancer patients free of charge as part of its work.
According to Mr. Lye, GTT’s contribution was timely, since the organization, which, during its 25-years of existence, had opted to remain low key rather than trumpet its work, is now seeking to expand its range of services and is looking to retool its operations including its building and equipment, to continue its programmes.
Beacon, Mr. Lye further added, which up to now has been 100% self sustaining, will henceforth be reaching out to the public for assistance as a means of continuing its charitable work.
Meanwhile, Major General Singh used the opportunity to appeal to the wider corporate community to follow GTT’S lending support to a worthy entity.