Wonderland Tours operator Alisha Ousman is challenging the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) over her company’s expulsion from the association.
THAG’s executive revoked her company’s membership last October, saying that it had reviewed complaints from customers, in addition to what it termed Ousman’s unprofessional conduct when the reports were put to her. The executive said the behaviour by Ousman showed a lack of understanding and professionalism, which it indicated was harmful to the growth of the industry.
It noted that in accordance with the regulation governing tour operations, the Guyana Tourism Authority, through the Guyana Tourism Act, can penalise a defaulting member of the sector for repeated violation reported to them.
But Ousman filed a $10M lawsuit against THAG for damages last year, after initially appealing the executive’s decision and then sending a lawyer’s letter to have the matter resolved. She said her company was wrongfully and illegally expelled from the association.
She said she was never informed by THAG or any member of any charge made against her or Wonderland Tours or any violation that was committed.
THAG’s executive took a decision to revoke Wonderland Tours’ membership with immediate effect on September 30, 2010. Ousman said her membership was renewed last March and it was to expire on March 19, 2011, and she has sought an injunction, among other redress, restraining THAG from preventing Wonderland Tours from being a member of THAG.
In court documents, THAG President Paul Stephenson, Executive Director Trinia Butts, Vice President Paul Waldron, Treasurer Mitra Ramkumar and Board Members Sydney Allicock and Colin Edwards are named as the defendants. In the endorsement of her claim, Ousman said Wonderland Tours was a founding member of the association. She said her company was called to a meeting with THAG on September 30, last year to discuss complaints filed against them by customers. She recalled meeting with THAG’s executive members and being informed that Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad had raised the complaints about her company.
Ousman said she pressed the executive about the complaints but got no response and she took the opportunity to mention two complaints which her company was aware of and which were addressed. According to Ousman, she left the meeting after a decision was taken to refer the matter to the head of the Standards Committee. She told the meeting that the head of the committee was a competitor and it would be unfair for him or any else to assess the pattern of complaints against her. In addition, she noted that she had still not been informed of the complaints or their contents.
After being subsequently informed of the revocation of membership, Ousman appealed the decision. Later, her attorney KA Juman-Yassin wrote THAG and called on the association to re-instate Wonderland Tours’ membership. She later filed the lawsuit.
Ousman said the expulsion translates into a loss of benefits through networking and exposure, particularly mention in the annual Explore Guyana magazine, which is circulated around the world to travel agents, foreign consulates and other places where there are potential tourists to Guyana. She noted that her company was left out of the magazine published for 2011 due to the revocation. “…I would suffer loss and damage as [a] potential tourist to Guyana would feel that Wonderland Tours is not in business and or is not a recognised entity to organise tours and other activities in Guyana,” she said.
Ousman gained prominence last year May when she challenged BK International over its quarry operations in the Baracara Falls area. BK International was expanding operations to the falls site and destroying the pathway to the falls. The area has since been restored and is open for tours.
