–refurbished call centre will create needed employment, says Prime Minister

PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has assured Lindeners that they would not be left out of his government’s development plans.
He made these comments while touring the newly-refurbished Toucan Call Centre building, located at Kara Kara, Linden, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

“It is our intention, as part of the overriding principle, to create employment for the people of Linden; so Linden will not be left out of the plans for Guyana,” PM Phillips said. “The focus now is on the development of all Guyana, and all Guyanese,” he added.
The call centre, which is expected to employ over 200 residents from the region, once fully operational, was refurbished at a total cost of $142M.

“We will put out Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for investors to come to inspect, and to set up their businesses here. By doing that, they will create employment,” the prime minister said.
Noting that the aim is to ensure that Lindeners benefit from the project, the PM said that the refurbishing of the call centre is in keeping with the government’s plan of furthering social and economic development within the region, while providing a conducive environment for investment.

He stated that his government is committed to other such initiatives, not only in Region 10, but throughout the length and breadth of the county.
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, who was present at the facility, stated that the Ministry of Labour, through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), is currently exploring having training programmes and other opportunities available to residents in the region.

“We have a responsibility, as the Ministry of Labour, to create conditions regarding stabilised employment, so we have an interest in this matter, and so I am here to lend support to the Prime Minister,” Minister Hamilton said.
The Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region 10, Dwight John, who also toured the facility, lauded the initiative by the Government of Guyana, and posited that it would bring much-needed economic development to the region.

“I am thankful to the Prime Minister’s office and the Government of Guyana for the fast rehabilitation of the call centre, after being in disrepair for a while. It is a wonderful initiative by the government, and I am thankful that the Prime Minister has stated that other such developmental activities will be coming to the region.” (Office of the Prime Minister)