Capt. Gouveia should not stifle private enterprise

Oct 16, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I refer to your article dated Tuesday, October 14, 2008 quoting Capt. Gerry Gouveia as saying that it’s crazy and nonsensical for the GTA to be supporting a new association of private tour operators.

Perhaps Mr. Gouveia needs to be reminded that he is the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission and he should encourage freedom of expression and association from all private sector organisations. He should not stifle private enterprise.

It is common knowledge that THAG has a leadership and membership problem. For over one year an executive could not be elected because no one wanted to serve as Chairman and hence a caretaker committee was appointed.

If hotels, tour operators and tourism stakeholders feel that THAG is impotent and devoid of ideas, then they have the right to form one or more associations and the Government should recognise these associations as they did with THAG.

It is unfortunate that the current and past leadership of THAG is bad mouthing Guyana and discouraging the building of new hotels, much to the dissatisfaction of their small membership. It seems that a small cabal in THAG is afraid of competition.

The good news is that more tourists are visiting Guyana and more hotels are being built despite THAG’s effort to drive tourists away.

If Capt. Gouveia wants to discourage the formation of tourism associations in Guyana he should resign as Chairman of the Private Sector Commission. I urge the Government to co-operate with all private sector organizations, especially in the tourism sector.
Carlton Williams