The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has rejected any suggestion that its staff were callous or not compassionate in handling matters concerning the victims of the accident on Saturday which left a member of the media and a bus driver dead.
GT&T was responding to an editorial in yesterday’s Guyana Chronicle which suggested that the company had been insensitive in dealing with members of the local media following the accident at Amelia’s Ward which resulted in the death of NCN reporter Akila Jacobs and bus driver Terrence Tappin and injury to other media personnel whilst they were returning from covering an event hosted by the telephone company in Ituni.
According to a release from GT&T, the company is disappointed that the anger of the media fraternity may have prompted them to overlook the fact that two press releases were issued by the company on Sunday and Monday on the accident.
The telephone company rejected “the suggestion that its staff have been callous or less than compassionate in handling matters concerning the victims of the accident.” The release said that GT&T officials were at the scene of the accident and they had ensured that all the survivors were taken to the hospital. Senior members of staff accompanied them to the hospital to check on the status of their health and to keep their media houses informed.
On Sunday, senior officials visited the homes of the deceased to express their condolences and to offer the grieving families support.
The release said that on Monday, executives met with the heads of media houses whose staff had been affected. The meeting focused on ensuring that the best health care for the injured, covering funeral expenses for Jacobs, and on the collaboration that would be necessary to secure the future of her two year old daughter.
It said it was agreed that collaboration on the type of welfare would begin “when the dust settles”.
The release said that the company regrets if any action or statement was viewed as insensitive. The company stated that it will continue to give whatever support or assistance that might be required during this time.