CALL centre jobs are not dead-end occupations; they offer limitless opportunities for growth, skill development, and economic independence. That was the message from Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, as he addressed scores of young people last Thursday at the launch of V-Chart Services’ third call centre in Guyana.
The event also included a job fair. Speaking to a room filled with prospective employees, company executives, and government officials at the new Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) facility, Dr. Singh passionately defended the role of call centres in transforming lives and building careers.
“There’s a reason why I spoke about the emergence of an industry,” he said.

“Because the reality is that this may very well be your first job. For young people who have just left high school and are trying to get some experience, earn an income, or figure out what they want to do for the long-term, this is an excellent starting point.”

He explained that the significance of the call centre industry goes far beyond first jobs. For many people, particularly women, call centres present a chance to re-enter the workforce after years away.
“You may have stepped out of the workforce because you became a mother, or had to take care of an elderly parent…Or maybe you wanted to take a break, or you lost your job and may be returning to the workforce now. These jobs are not just for the young; they’re also for the not-so-young.”

Dr. Singh emphasised that Guyana’s rapidly growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector is not a collection of stagnant positions but an evolving industry that provides multiple paths for advancement.
He reasoned: “You can come in initially as an operator– an entry-level operator– but if you’re very good, you can become a team lead. You can move up to a supervisor, shift manager, and eventually even become a manager. There is no limit to how you can grow in this company and the industry.”
“I have seen people start as an operator and become the owner of their own call centre. I have seen people start as operators and become the country manager of an international call centre. I’ve seen many people who started on the floor as an operator and became the country manager for major multinational companies,” Minister Singh posited.

He called on those working in or considering entering the call centre industry to abandon the misconception that the job is menial or without long-term value. Instead, he urged them to see it for what it is—a platform for growth and development.
“If you apply yourself—you come, you work hard, you demonstrate productivity. You are disciplined. You are punctual; you work your full hours. You do good-quality work; you pay attention. There is no limit to what you can achieve in this industry,” he said.
Dr. Singh also underlined the value of the skills gained through call centre work, which he described as valuable and transferable. “You develop proficiency in information and communications technology, customer relations, and communication with international clients. And of course, you develop other proficiencies,” he noted.

He explained that the training also includes proprietary knowledge, unique to the specific services V-Chart Services provides to its global clients—giving employees even greater value in the marketplace.
“So, you are also acquiring skills that will serve you well in terms of working on future opportunities,” he added.

Underscoring President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s commitment to job creation, Dr. Singh said that expanding employment is one of the government’s top priorities.
“President Ali has committed that we [the government] will spare no effort in ramping up our training and investment in young people… to ensure a competitive workforce for international companies like V-Chart.”
As Singh concluded, “We want to create an environment where jobs are created, incomes are generated, and people’s lives are improved.” The opening of V-Chart’s third call centre comes at a time when Guyana is working to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas, placing greater emphasis on service industries, technology, and sustainable job creation.

The Public Service Minister called on everyone present to play a part in spreading awareness of the opportunities available.

“I want you to encourage as many young people as possible to come—and not just the young. You may have an aunt, or a mother, or an older cousin—an older cousin that you know is not working—and you can tell them that there is an opportunity, and you learn new skills too,” he said.
In closing, the Finance Minister urged workers to see their roles not just as jobs, but as stepping stones to something bigger. V-Chart Services is a fast-growing and dynamic company that specialises in Durable Medical Equipment (DME) billing, for which it has become one of the market leaders, catering to major players in the United States healthcare sector.

V-Chart Services operates call centres in Georgetown and Tuschen, located on the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE). Together, these two locations employ more than 160 people. The India-based company, which began operations in Guyana in 2023, is aiming to hire approximately 250 individuals for its new facility in Enmore.
Since returning to office in August 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has taken key steps to boost the BPO sector. These include liberalising the telecommunications sector–identified as a critical enabler for BPO and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) growth. The government has also been investing in infrastructure to support reliable power supply.

Notable energy initiatives include the deployment of power ships in Berbice and Demerara and the Gas-to-Energy Project, aimed at doubling electricity generation and cutting electricity costs by 50 per cent. Guyana’s growing BPO sector is evidenced by the presence of Teleperformance, a French multinational call centre and customer service company that has established operations locally, generating new employment opportunities and driving sectoral growth.
With approximately 410,000 employees worldwide, Teleperformance is considered one of the largest BPO companies globally.