Kara Kara Call Centre commissioned

• 250 Lindeners to be employed by next June

By Naomi Marshall

On Friday the Guyana Office for Investment (GO- INVEST) and Midas Business Process Outsourcing Incorporated, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see over 250 Lindeners being employed at the newly renovated Kara Kara Call Centre by June 2022.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Kara Kara Call Centre during a simple ceremony by  the Chief Executive Officer of Go-Invest, Peter Ramsaroop, and the Chief Executive Officer of Midas Business Process Outsourcing Incorporated, Malcolm Sobers.

 In his remarks, Sobers  expressed his gratitude to the government for considering Midas. He noted that while his company is focused on providing exceptional telecommunications services, it is also committed to providing rural communities with jobs. “It is an extreme pleasure, it is a dream, the highest portion of motivation to see that we are able to do this when we have all of the things that we need in place. We have the government’s support, we have a very progressive business happening, we have very committed clients that are looking to grow significantly in Guyana, and we have the potential with prospective employees here,” he affirmed

According to Sobers, 95 percent of the positions at the Kara Call Center will be filled by Lindeners. While 70 persons will be employed at the call centre by October 15, 2021, one hundred and fifty persons will be employed by December 2021.

 Also speaking at the event was Minister of Public Works, Honorable Juan Edghill, who highlighted that this initiative is the answer to many calls made by local leaders and the ordinary citizens, to tackle the issue of unemployment within Region 10.

Edgehill noted that his hope is that the initative would also cause social issues, within the town of Linden, such as crime, to decrease. “What we are doing here is to the benefit of Linden, jobs coming to Linden. Every political leader in Linden, if they take to a platform, they will speak about high unemployment in Linden, that is the issue. Well, here it is your government, the PPP/C Government is answering by way of a solution, by bringing to Linden an opportunity for Lindeners to be employed and work in Linden. “So, what we need, is a clear statement to investors and others. We are going to behave in a mature and a responsible way that people can invest, benefit from their investment and that the people of linden could get real jobs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Minister with the responsibility for finance, Honorable Ashni Singh said he is convinced that the Information and Communications Technology sector can create the most jobs for young Guyanese. “The ICT sector if properly incentivised, can generate thousands of new jobs through co-investment, providing infrastructure support, state sponsored training and employment opportunities for the disabled. I want to submit to you my brothers and sisters of Linden, that what you are witnessing here today, is the living manifestation of this very paragraph in action. A partnership with a private company, investment in infrastructure, facilitation of infrastructure and improved and more affordable access and job creation.”

Scores of Lindeners turned up in hopes of being employed. Basic recruitment was done at the call Centre on Friday, while, interviews will be done on the 1st and 2nd of October, 2021. Zechariah Williams who is seeking employment, said the centre will be a great opportunity for young people. “I recently finished writing CXC like many other children, and because there are not many jobs out here this place will be very nice for everybody because from school, into the workforce. No time for loitering, less people will be in gangs, so this is very nice,” he said.

The Kara Kara Call Centre previously housed the Toucan Connection Call Centre. The St Kitts-based company shut its doors, within no prior notification and many of the workers, up to this day, have not received severance pay. In 2019, the now defunct Ministry of Telecommunications, commenced extensive renovations to the building, which is now completed. The total cost for the refurbishment is $142M.