By Ariana Gordon

NOT disheartened by the shift in her portfolio, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, has said she remains committed to the tourism industry and will work with Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who now has responsibility for tourism, to ensure the industry grows.Hughes told reporters in New York that tourism is one of her loves, but she trusts the decision of President David Granger. “I think everybody knows I consider tourism almost like my little baby…it has been very close to my heart for many, many years. The reality is that we want to make sure that there is focus, and the public telecommunications environment and all that this Government hopes to achieve in that area is quite huge.”

Minister Hughes noted that she was asked by the President to take the portfolio of Minister of Public Telecommunications earlier this year, as there is quite a lot of work to be done.
She noted that despite the new portfolio, there were many areas she wanted covered in the tourism sector.

Minister Hughes views the move by President Granger to have Minister Gaskin manage the Tourism Sector as ‘a transition’. “I am encouraged, because we work as a team, and Minister Gaskin already said to me we intend to do this together. It is not as if I am stepping away from the sector, I will always be there; I have been working on it for the last year… All of the plans we put in place we will go forward with,” Minister Hughes told reporters at the Harvard Club in New York.

During her year as Minister of Tourism, the Ministry had worked closely with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), and a structure was put in place.
“Sometimes, the things that you want are not necessarily the best in that point in time; it is a mixture of that,” remarked Minister Hughes.

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), in a recent statement, said the Ministry of Tourism ought to have a minister responsible solely for that sector. In the statement, THAG contended, “It is critical to the industry’s development to have a minister who has the time to focus on the sector’s development, (one who) understands the needs of the industry and auxiliary sectors.”

AGREES
In responding to that statement, Minister Hughes said that, like THAG, she holds the view that the Tourism Sector should have a minister dedicated exclusively to that sector.

“Absolutely! That is where we started off. I think that this Government started with the recognition that tourism was an important sector,” she said, and explained that after a six-month review of the sectors by President Granger, it was felt that there was a gap, and a need for someone to take charge of the Public Telecommunications Sector.

“I think he looked at the skills and thought that it was something he wanted me to look at…it is an exciting field, and sometimes we forget the range of areas that actually are impacted by telecommunications. I think if we look at the range of things that we need to do in the fastest possible time -– developments in communication technology, developments in terms of education, new ways to hinterland communities, even tourism — are all impacted by telecommunications,” the Public Telecommunications Minister said.

NECESSARY
Minister Hughes said, “It is not the ideal situation”, nor is it “an easy situation”, but it is necessary.

“I do serve at the behest of the President, and I do have the utmost of respect, especially for his thinking. I am disheartened because, yes, I think tourism does need its own Ministry and it does need its own minister.”

She is of the view that too much focus had been placed on the number of ministries created in the administration. As such, she believes that a national discourse on the issues, such as the one in question, was eliminated.

“If that environment had not been created, then there might have been a consideration as to (whether) tourism really could stand on its own. I think the environment created the scenario where we came to the table saying ‘Oh gosh, 19 is already too many ministries’, with little focus on what if it were 20? What would those 20 ministries deliver that less ministries failed to deliver?”

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin has said he does not feel the addition of the Tourism Ministry to his portfolio is burdensome. He told reporters in New York on Friday: “If I weren’t able and capable, I don’t think I would have taken on the responsibility, so I don’t think the work is too much.”

He said that while he is yet to have discussions with Minister Hughes on the handing over, his immediate priorities would be to continue the work started by her.
“I need to discuss with Minister Hughes; there needs to be a proper handing over, and her priorities have to become my priorities, because there needs to be some continuity,” Gaskin declared.

On the issue of a standalone Ministry for Tourism, Minister Gaskin said President Granger, in his wisdom, has placed Tourism with business.

“THAG doesn’t have the responsibilities, and maybe the benefit of all the considerations that the President, as leader of country, has to make in deciding how to run the country; the structure of his Government. Tourism was in good hands since May last year, and I think it will continue to be in good hands. THAG can rest assured that the industry will be given the attention it deserves,” he added.

The Tourism Ministry is to be officially handed over to Minister Gaskin on July 1.