Anticipates meeting with President Jagdeo
Chairman of the Guyana Telephone andTelegraph Company (GT&T) Cornelius B. Prior Jr. has told Stabroek Business that he will be seeking to use his chairmanship of Caribbean Central Am-erican Action (CCAA), an influential regional non-governmental organization (NGO) that seeks to promote private sector-driven growth in the region, to rekindle interest in the organization among regional and hemispheric governments and business organizations.
Speaking with Stabroek Business in a recent exclusive telephone interview Prior, who was elected Chairman of the CCAA at the organization’s Spring Board Meeting in Washington earlier this year also told Stabroek Business that he anticipates meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo and other regional leaders at the forum’s Annual Miami Conference on the Caribbean Basin scheduled for December. He said that he had met and held discussions with two previous Presidents of Guyana, the late Desmond Hoyte and Mrs Janet Jagan at previous Miami conferences.
And the Chairman and founder of Atlantic Tele Network (ATN), the parent company of GT&T, said that part of his initiative to seek to reinvigorate the CCAA will include visiting the various territories to meet with representatives of the banking and other sectors, including DIGICEL, GT&T’s cellular service competitor in Guyana, to discuss the reinvigoration of the forum. Prior told Stabroek Business that he has already met with the Antigua-based American business tycoon Sir Allen Stanford to discuss issues relating to the role of the CCAA in the region.
Prior told Stabroek Business that during his planned engagements with regional governments he will be seeking to encourage them to continue to further enhance the investment environment in their respective territories.
The CCAA is best known for its hosting of the high-level annual Miami Conference that facilitates engagements between regional and hemispheric leaders and representatives of the business community to discuss trade, investment and policy issues in the Americas. The ATN Chairman has served on the Executive Board as Treasurer since 2004.
Asked about a possible role for the CCAA in supporting the region’s accelerated food production drive Prior said that while he was unaware of any specific plans at this stage the issue may well surface at the December Miami forum.