After three years, the Toucan Connection call centre has steadily employed a number of Linden youth, becoming the second largest private employer in the community.
In May 2007, this Kittitian-owned call centre at Kara Kara started operations with just about 20 persons. In 2008, it set a goal to employ at least 100 persons by that year’s end but fluctuating employee numbers due to some workers leaving for the nursing profession and Cyril Potter COllege of Education made this difficult.
However, in January the centre had 100 persons, but soon experienced a slight drop until about a month ago when about 50 persons were hired, taking the total to 121 employees.
The parent company also owns a telemarketing company in St Kitts.
General Manager Kemer Herbert told Stabroek News that the parent company took a decision to expand to Guyana and while here to develop, “slowly but surely.” The call centre sells various magazines such as engineering and construction publications to customers in Canada and the United States. Herbert said the company has always been able to attract workers as it is located in a community with very high unemployment numbers and as such businesses often have a pool of workers from which to choose.
Herbert said there were several pending job applications and once the call centre gets more contracts and continues to see steady growth, mor persons would be hired. The general manager describes the relatively young workforce, with ages ranging from as young as 18 years as “ok”, noting that workers are performing based upon expectations.
The call centre operates from the former Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) building now owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), a government entity.
At least two other call centres were occupants prior to Toucan Connection occupying the building, namely LENTEL which opened in 2005 and closed in December 2006 and TRIVANTAGE. At its closure, LENTEL had over 20 workers.
