— says will improve standards and quality of business
RESIDENTS of the mining community of Linden no longer have to travel to Georgetown to access the services of Citizens Bank, as a branch is now established there at a cost exceeding $200M.
The branch was officially declared opened Wednesday by Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, in the presence of special invitees and scores of excited Lindeners.

Minister Singh told those gathered for the commissioning that government is pleased with the shareholders, directors and the management of Citizens Bank for recognizing the need for improving the standards and quality of business being conducted in the community, as it is now the major transshipment hub for goods and people en route to Northern Brazil, via the Lethem road.
“Over the years, Citizens Bank has demonstrated itself as an institution that is alert to emerging opportunities, and willing to be responsive to those opportunities…this is an impressive step ,” Minister Singh said.
He spoke of the recent international experience of the global financial crisis as an indication that small communities or countries like Guyana should never, proverbially, “place all its eggs in one basket… we must look for opportunities to diversify the economy.”
Minister Singh also alluded to the fact that the national economies of the world are inter-connected, and so “when policies are made at the national level, policy makers ought to be attentive to the reality that they are operating in a global environment…in formulation of policies, policy-makers need to recognize the need for diversifying their economies and strengthening the economic structures and systems so that their economies can be resilient to the uncertainties of the global economy.”
This, according to Minister Singh, was done by Guyana, and he explained why this country did not experience much of a financial effect during the global financial crises.
“I am pleased that, in light of the collaborative efforts, today Guyana has attracted major international investors for the bauxite industry; it is for national credit that we have one of the world’s leading aluminum companies, such as RUSAL and BOSAI, as significant investors,” Minister Singh said.

The establishment of the Toucan Call Centre, along with other major investments in the bauxite sector, spells a development story of modernisation for Linden, as residents there have the opportunity to work in a highly technologically advanced environment, providing services to other major international countries with the use of technology.
“This represents a good example of the kinds of jobs that can be created if the requisite infrastructure is in place,” Minister Singh said.

Clifford Reece, Chairman of Citizens Bank, said that the event marked the honouring of a commitment made by the Bank to Lindeners three years ago that a full service branch would have been established in the community.
He said that establishing of a branch at this location is consistent with the thinking of the decision-makers of yesteryear, who saw the potential which existed and continues to exist in this region.
“When we consider the future prospects of Linden, its geographical location and its close proximity to Northern Brazil, volumes of opportunities for development are imminent,” Reece said. (GINA)