Linden on government’s development radar

THE BAUXITE-MINING COMMUNITY OF LINDEN WILL NOT BE IGNORED in the
government’s ongoing economic development thrust, assured Prime Minister, Mark Phillips.
Phillips, an army retiree, gave this assurance during Saturday’s a tour of the newly-refurbished
$142M Toucan Call Centre in Kara Kara, Linden, Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten).
“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. The focus now is on the
development of all Guyana and all Guyanese,” Phillips said.
He said some 200 persons from within Region Ten are expected to be employed at the call centre
once it becomes fully operational.

“We will put out expressions of interest (EOI) for investors to come to inspect and to set up their
businesses here—by doing that, they will create employment,” the ex-Guyana Defence Force
(GDF) soldier said.
He said refurbishing of the call centre is in keeping with his government’s vision of promoting
social and economic development in the resource-rich region facing significant
underdevelopment. Investments such as the call centre will attract financial investments and help
beat the pinch of poverty.
Phillips said the government’s investment plans target all 10 Regions.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, who also toured the facility with Phillips, said
the the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), an agency in the sector, plans to commence skills
training programmes and make other opportunities available to Region Ten residents.
“We have a responsibility as the Ministry of Labour to create conditions regarding
stabilised employment, so we have an interest in this matter [the Toucan Call Centre]. So, I am
here to lend support to the Prime Minister,” Hamilton said.
And Regional Executive Officer (REO) for Region 10, Mr. Dwight John, who was also part of
the touring party, lauded the government’s initiative observing it would bring much-needed
economic development to the region.

“I am thankful to the Prime Minister’s office and tPhhe Government of Guyana for the fast
rehabilitation of the call centre after being in disrepair for a while,” the REO said.
“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,” John said.