HAND-in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited, in celebration of their 150th anniversary, has unveiled four locally-themed postage stamps, now on sale as of yesterday at the 64 post offices countrywide.Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson was on hand to receive First Day Covers of the stamps yesterday during an unveiling ceremony held at the Hand-in-Hand Barr Street, Kitty office.

Noting how pleased she was to be part of the celebration of such an important milestone, Minister Ferguson said the GPOC was equally pleased to be involved in the venture.
Acting Post Master General, Abdul Hassan, who noted that the new stamps will be available in $80 and $150 denominations at selected post offices, said commemorative stamps are the perfect memorabilia with which to celebrate an anniversary or significant event, as they are highly sought after by a wide cross-section of people, both locally and internationally.
They are also of interest to philatelists, he said, as they buy, sell and store them as valued collectables.
On behalf of the GPOC, he congratulated Hand-in-Hand on the attainment of its 150th anniversary, having first thrown open its doors to the public back in 1865 right at the same spot its current head office now stands.
Giving a background of the company was Director/Fire Manager Howard Cox who said the opening of Hand-in-Hand here marked the very first time that houses belonging to ordinary folks and small businesses would ever enjoy insurance coverage. It also meant that millions of dollars which would have otherwise gone abroad stayed in Guyana.

“It provided individual relief by the granting of mortgages, and invested in local bonds to raise money for social activities such as Village Loan Bonds and Water Works Loan Bonds,” he said.
“It also, throughout the years, provided Guyanese with a source of investment which earned twice what they could earn from bank interests.”
As he spoke of the company’s establishment and years of growth, he related that in all those years, the company suffered three fires but was able to survive and grow from strength to strength.
Cox said from 1879, when there were just four employees, the company now boasts a staff of over 150 staff, both indoors and outdoors, and 14 branches all over Guyana.