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Says PPP/C Government will continue to promote Guyana as premier destination for BPO operations during current term in office

Georgetown, Ministry of Finance, July 27, 2021: During a tour of the Emerge Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) facility located at Camp and Robb Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown today, Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment, Peter Ramsaroop, lauded the efforts of the business’s proprietors Adrian Collins and Carole Fletcher for their hard work and vision which have allowed for the current employment of approximately 700 in the BPO industry, including 500 in Guyana. During the visit, the Minister met with Director of Operations Dalgeish Joseph and Director of Client Services, Aisha D’Abreu. He encouraged the businesspersons to ensure the expansion of operations to other Regions reiterating that the BPO sector has the potential to create jobs, generate income, spur economic activity and improve lives.

Minister Singh alluded to the People’s Progressive Party /Civic Government’s (PPP/C’s) effort prior to demitting office in 2015, promoting Guyana as a destination for BPO business which had proven to be a success. He noted that this effort will continue once more by Government during its current term. The Senior Finance Minister further commended the businesspersons for their investment in Guyana as he once more alluded to the fact that the current Irfaan-Ali led Government strongly supports any effort by businesses which aligns with its vision of diversification of the economy, part of which includes promoting Guyana as a premier destination for BPO business. This, he noted, will also contribute to ensuring the country maintains a stable macro-economic environment.

“In the pre-2015 period, we had already recognized the vast potential for BPO service, and we had invested a lot of policy effort into the sector,” Minister Singh said explaining that Emerge BPO is yet another example of what can be achieved by persons willing to invest in Guyana.

The Minister had echoed similar sentiments during his visits and tours of Express International Incorporated located in Georgetown and Qualfon at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, both being BPO facilities.

He had referenced the fact that many businesses internationally are recognizing Guyana as a prime destination for BPO services especially with its English-speaking population, its educated workforce and its close proximity to the United States of America and Canada.

“As a Government, we would like to see the BPO sector continue to grow as it will allow for the creation of jobs and the generation of income,” the Finance Minister posited.

Emerge BPO commenced operations in 2008 and provides a variety of outsourcing services to clients with agents operating from Guyana, North America and Honduras.

Lauds CEO on job-creation initiative, investment in Guyana, plans for expansion

Alludes to PPP/C Government’s intention to continue promoting Guyana as a premier destination for BPO operations

Georgetown, Ministry of Finance, July 20, 2021: During a tour of Express International Incorporated on Hadfield Street today, Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment, Peter Ramsaroop, lauded the efforts of the business’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Ken Deocharran at pursuing his vision which has since materialized into a successful Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) facility in Guyana employing 285 Guyanese and heading towards expansion soon. The Senior Finance Minister commended the businessman for his investment in Guyana and alluded to the fact that the current Irfaan-Ali led Government strongly supports any effort by businesses which also aligns with its vision of diversification of the economy in the form of expansion of new sectors such as the services and tourism industries. This, he noted, will also contribute to ensuring the country maintains a stable macro-economic environment.

“In the pre-2015 period, we had already recognized the vast potential for BPO service, and we had invested a lot of policy effort into the sector,” Minister Singh said explaining that Express International Inc. is one example of what can be achieved by persons in the Guyanese Diaspora willing to invest in the country.

“This is an example of a Guyanese in the diaspora who saw an opportunity in Guyana and an example of what can be achieved in the BPO sector,” the Minister reiterated as he also noted that the business includes a Guyanese management team of highly professional persons and based on his assessment following the tour, boasts an impressive operation. Additionally, the Minister referenced the fact that many businesses internationally are recognizing Guyana as a prime destination for BPO services especially with its English-speaking population, its educated workforce and its close proximity to the United States of America and Canada.

“As a Government, we would like to see the BPO sector continue to grow as it will allow for the creation of jobs and the generation of income,” the Finance Minister posited

On its website Express International Inc. has referenced its President and CEO Mr. Ken Deocharran, 37, as a freeporter and Guyana native who started his trucking and courier service business in 2006 and who has since built a $15 million company with roughly 120 trucks delivering goods throughout the tristate area and in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the United States.

It also enlists itself as specializing in expedited high-value shipping services, providing these services to global and domestic clients through distinguishable, time-sensitive service, specialized equipment, and professionally trained staff.

Georgetown, Ministry of Finance, July 17, 2021: As Government continues to address a number of pertinent issues affecting citizens, the National Insurance Scheme’s (NIS) countrywide outreach launched by Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh today at the Giftland Mall, resulted in scores of citizens coming out to visit the site and have their issues addressed. The outreach saw the Minister, NIS Board Chairman Ramesh Persaud and General Manager, Holly Greaves along with Board Directors and other NIS staff meeting with citizens and listening to the issues they would have had with regard to claims and other matters.

“We started at 10, we’ve already seen 85 persons out of which 60 thereabout, we’ve already resolved their matter to their satisfaction ….there are probably about 25 or thereabout that will require further investigation, further inquiry, further checking of records, further work but I’m very pleased that we got the response that we got ….lots of people came,” the Senior Finance Minister reported to the media at about 13:30 hrs with the day’s session planned to continue until 16:00 hrs.

The Minister lauded the efforts of the new Board and its management for working assiduously to resolve the large number of issues and pending claims since the Board’s appointment in November, 2020.

“I’m very happy to say that the board and management have done a lot of work …have achieved quite a lot and to give you some examples …when the new Board was appointed in November last year, we had a stock of about 14,000 pending claims. They are now down to about 3,000 or thereabout so they’ve managed to clear out a number of pending claims,” Minister Singh said. Additionally, the Minister noted that NIS has also been able to successfully resolve the challenges with regard to their Life Certificates.

“When we came into Government there was an ongoing challenge with Life Certificates that had been submitted and that were not processed in a timely manner… on average in each pension cycle you’d have probably about 3000 that were not being processed in a timely manner which would result in a pensioner being paid their pension late or would result in a pensioner dropping off the pensioner’s roll. We’ve now reduced that to zero,“ he posited .

Minister Singh further noted that NIS has been able to use technology to aid in resolving some of their challenges such as allowing pensioners to send their Life Certificates via Whatsapp.

The Senior Finance Minister emphasized further that the Outreach would be continuing countrywide as the Irfaan Ali-led Government was adamant that NIS needs to resolve all of the issues in the shortest possible time.

“The President has mandated me as the Minister responsible for the NIS -we have undertaken at the Cabinet level -a nationwide series of outreaches so that we are able to take the services of NIS to the Citizens….some citizens are not even able to get to a regional office. We want them to be able to come to a convenient location to register their complaint or their problem that they have and to be able to process those. These complaints are very diverse in nature. Some people are having challenges with their incomplete contribution records, “Minister Singh concluded.

The matters being dealt with at the Outreaches include Compliance certificates, Contribution statements, Registration & replacement of NIS cards, Signing and submission of Life Certificates, Submission of Claims and Benefit and Pension queries.

The Senior Finance Minister along with the NIS team are slated to continue the Outreach tomorrow at the car park in Parika, Region Three while additional Outreach locations and dates are to be announced later.

Georgetown, Ministry of Finance, July 14, 2021: Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has announced that he will be embarking on a series of countrywide outreaches to meet with residents on the ground and listen to their concerns in relation to any issues they may wish to address with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). A team from the Ministry of Finance and the NIS will also be at hand during the outreaches to provide services. The first outreach meeting is slated to be held at the Giftland Mall, Turkeyen, Georgetown between 10 am and 8 pm on Saturday, July 17, 2021.

The matters to be dealt with at the Outreaches include Compliance certificates, Contribution statements, Registration & replacement of NIS cards, Signing and submission of Life Certificates, Submission of Claims and Benefit and Pension queries.

In December 2020 last, just one month after the commencement of his duties as Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Singh met with the new NIS Board. At that meeting he outlined his expectations, charging the Board to ensure these were met.

He had noted then that, “Over the last several years, we have seen the progressive decline of the Scheme. The NIS faces a number of challenges at the macro level and has come under severe threat. It is therefore going to take a lot of work to return the Scheme to long term financial viability.” The Minister had also emphasized the level of importance the President Irfaan-Ali led Government was placing on the Scheme and had reminded the Board that pensioners and retirees usually look forward to their pension in a timely manner while current contributors expect to receive their benefits promptly.

Minister Singh had also cited the Government’s grave concern at the number of complaints received from contributors about delays in receiving their benefits and entitlements most often as a result of incomplete records of their contributions to the Scheme. At that meeting, he had tasked the Board with addressing this problem immediately in order to ensure that public satisfaction with the level of service provided by the NIS improves urgently.

Since then the NIS has taken a number of steps to address several matters as flagged by the Senior Minister.

In December 2020, a new NIS Board was appointed comprising Mr. Ramesh Persaud as Chairman and Board members Ms. Holly Greaves (ExOfficio), Mr. Faizal Jaffarally, Ms. Yvonne Pearson, Mr. Maurice Solomon, Mr. Satanand Gopie, Ms. Kathleen Jason, Mr. Seepaul Narine and Ms. Jillian Burton-Persaud.

The first outreach will be held at the Giftland Mall on Saturday, July 17, while the second will be at the car park at Parika in Region Three on Sunday, July 18, 2021 from 10 am to 4 pm. Additional Outreach locations and dates are expected to be announced later.

Alludes to President Irfaan Ali’s vision for diversification of the economy including through world class education and health care

Georgetown, Ministry of Finance, July 13, 2021: As Government continues to place focus on the diversification of Guyana’s economy through the strengthening of new and emerging sectors, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh today visited the Texila American University where he toured the facility and met with the University’s Dean Dr. Dheeraj Bhansal and other University representatives.

The Minister's visit was primarily to gain a better understanding of the institution's progress since its establishment in Guyana in 2011 and to discuss the University’s future plans for expansion. Upon learning about the progress at the institution and the number of persons, comprising Guyanese and other foreign nationals, who have graduated in the field of medicine thus far, Minister Singh commended the officials for this major achievement and for their investment in such a facility as he also noted that the institution boasts a modern and well-equipped campus which has produced to date, over 400 licensed medical doctors currently practicing not only in Guyana, but also worldwide.

“There was once the point when we used to send our students elsewhere to study medicine and come back to Guyana. We now have the very interesting phenomenon-the reverse phenomenon that young medical students are coming from the rest of the world to Guyana, studying to become a doctor, qualifying as doctors and going on to practice medicine, not only in Guyana but some of them have gone back to their home countries- Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Africa, and India. It is extremely pleasing for me to observe how this private sector educational institution responded to the investment environment that we had created pre-2015 years, grew over the years and is now poised for even greater growth,” Minister Singh emphasized.

During the visit, the Senior Finance Minister spoke with some of the foreign students and alluded to President Irfaan Ali's vision for diversification of the Guyanese economy and Guyana’s potential as a destination for world class education and health care. Additionally, he posited that institution’s like Texila will aid in the country’s development.

“In our first budget when we returned to office in 2020, one of the initiatives was to remove the corporation tax on education and medical facilities. That was intended to even further enhance Guyana’s attractiveness as a destination for investment in education and healthcare and we see this not just from the point of view of widening the options that are available to Guyanese students…but we see investment in education and health care as a business. Also, from the economic standpoint, we see this as an important economic development,” Minister Singh said.

He outlined the fact that because the institution exists, it means that jobs are being created in the form of administrative staff, other support staff and also through the provision of support services.

“When international students come to Guyana not only do they come and pay their tuition fees, but they live in Guyana, they rent accommodation in Guyana, they consume goods and services, they interact with Guyanese,” he reminded.

Texila University came to Guyana in 2011 and acquired the plot of land on which the institution was constructed in 2014 as part of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government’s agenda to develop Providence and the East Bank area as a major corridor for economic development. Government had also indicated then, its recognition of Guyana as a potential destination for investment in new and emerging sectors including specialized education and specialized healthcare.

Georgetown, Ministry of Finance, July 9, 2021: Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh earlier today warmly welcomed newly-appointed Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon upon his arrival at the Eugene Correia International Airport for an official visit to meet and have discussions with President Mohammed Irfaan Ali and other officials. Dr. Leon, who commenced his tenure on May 1 last, is slated to visit a number of places over the weekend along with his delegation, including several project sites as part of his visit.

The objective of the visit is to reaffirm CDB's commitment to Guyana and to explore opportunities for expanded partnership in pursuit of national development goals. The visit is also an opportunity for dialogue between the Bank and the Government of Guyana on the Government’s economic objectives and priorities and how CDB can support these through its assistance and lending programmes.

Guyana is one of the founding members of the CDB, having joined in 1970 and the Bank has been a leading partner in the country’s development over the past half century. CDB-funding in Guyana has been used for social and economic infrastructure, including schools, water systems and climate- resilient roads.

In 2020, CDB project-approvals in Guyana included US$ 9.9 million for the construction of a modern Hospitality and Training Institute and US$ 190 million for upgrading 121 kilometres of roadway from Linden to Mabura Hill – the largest ever project in the Bank’s history.

The new CDB President possesses over 30 years of experience in economic development during which he directed macroeconomic and financial policies in support of government authorities in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia and the Caribbean. Dr. Leon also worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for over 24 years and served as Mission Chief for the Gulf States of Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates as well as The Bahamas, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, he held the position of IMF’s Senior Resident Representative in Jamaica.

Prior to his engagement with the IMF, Dr. Leon was an Associate Professor at State University of New York at Old Westbury in the United States. He has also served as Director of Research at the Central Bank of Barbados and Country Economist at CDB.

Only recently, during his farewell to Dr. Leon’s predecessor, former CDB President Dr. William Warren Smith, Minister Singh had stressed on the excellent working relationship between the Government of Guyana and the CDB and the bank’s valuable support provided over the years.

Incidentally, the first country visited by the last CDB President when he commenced his tenure was Guyana and this country had received enormous support from that financial institution. The Bank has also provided support to other Regional States especially in the face of challenges by each member to various disasters and struggles.

Some of the additional CDB projects in Guyana include the Fourth Road Project: West Coast Demerara Road Improvement in 2013, the 2014 Sea and River Defense Resilience Project and the Skills Development and Employability Project in 2017.