THE Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), yesterday signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) totalling $9M. 

The MoU is to assist with educating orphans and vulnerable children and aiding several religious and cultural programmes organised by the CIOG.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Herdmanston Lodge, GT&T’s Marketing Manager, Fay Wharton, said that GT&T’s partnership with CIOG dates back many years, and the signing of the MOU has been in the making for some time and “we are pleased to be signing this MOU before the auspicious Eid-ul-Adha celebrations on Sunday.”She noted also that her company has been supporting numerous activities and this signing is to merely formalise the company’s support.
Wharton explained that “a total of $3million will be given to CIOG annually” and shared equally among educating orphans and vulnerable children; the CIOG’s annual Ramadan and Eid-ul-Adha events and other cultural programmes in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr. She emphasized that this MOU will also provide the opportunity for CIOG to formally adopt GT&T as its exclusive mobile service provider.
GT&T’s marketing manager on behalf of her company said : “We look forward to a continuous, mutually beneficial relationship with the CIOG and extend best wishes for Eid.”
CIOG’s President FazeelFerouz, thanked GT&T for its kind gesture, especially at this auspicious time in the Muslim calendar. He explained that with GT&T’s support, CIOG will be better able to assist in educating orphans and vulnerable children. He said: “CIOG has some 360 children in its care who are housed mostly at the school in Meten–Meer– Zorg, both Muslims and non-Muslims throughout the length and breadth of this country.”
He said he was particularly happy with the fact that some of the money will go towards education,which will result in brighter futures for affected children, “we need to look after them so they can have a better future.”
Ferouz said that the CIOG “recognises the great contribution that GT&T is making to help not only the Muslim community, but all Guyanese and we would like to commend them on this.”

(Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)