Latest update February 14th, 2025 8:22 AM
GT&T delivers to Berbicians their very own Bollywood Star
By Leon Suseran
The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) delivered to thousands of
GT&T CEO Yog Mahadeo, Singh and other officials shortly after the announcement was made.
Berbicians gathered at the Albion Sports Complex, Friday night, their very own Bollywood Star Champion. It was no other than 24-year- old Gail Ann Singh called ‘Priya’.
The Ancient County now has an added boost to its fame and fortune since it has secured for this young lady her spot in the telephone company’s showbiz programme for the next one- and- a half years, including the production of her very own song.
The final leg of the GT&T Jingle and Song Competition which got underway an hour late, saw packed pavilions and stands in the Albion Ground. The VIP section was also filled to capacity even as there were persons outside the gated area just to have a closer view at their home- grown Bollywood wanna- be’s. Popular actor and comedian Rajan Tiwari competently hosted the evening’s proceedings which was punctuated with scattered rain- showers.
The telephone giant began to distribute its brand name umbrellas to guests in the VIP area. Chief Executive Officer of GT&T, Yog Mahadeo, received a standing ovation at the beginning of the proceedings.
“Though I am home and very happy to be here, I have been challenged to bring our [GT&T’s] events to Berbice,” he said. He praised the audience for making these promotions possible and told them that every time they make a GT&T phone call or send a text message, they are re- investing in the development of their country.
A medley was done by the eleven finalists after which they all lined off on the stage and were presented with their very own BlackBerry Curve. After a few other performances from a dance group out of West Coast Berbice and Ishara Dance Troupe, it was crunch time.
Tiwari started to eliminate a few of the contestants. Kamal Rattan, Gail Ann Singh and Prakash Sadaram were the first three to remain, while a little later in the show, Joel Pharous and Gowradai Pooran were selected. Of the five, one would be announced the grand winner
GT&T Bollywood Star 2011 Gail Ann Singh receives a loving embrace from one of her uncles shortly after the announcement
of the Toyota Ist, and the production of a song from a recognized industry producer including a one-and-a-half year endorsement contract with GT&T.
Brandon Harding, the winner of the English segment took to the stage with his renditions of “Wine pon me curry” and “Radica”, which were crowd favourites.
It was exactly 10:20pm when Tiwari called upon the CEO to announce the winner of the competition but Mahadeo had a few words for Harding before he did so. “When you sing in Berbice, don’t take away Berbice girls.”
It was then time to make the announcements. The rain started to pour. The audience knew the announcement had to be made and even the media struggled to function in the rain and positioning themselves for the moment of the announcement, with their umbrellas opened and notebooks getting soaked. In fifth place, Kamal Rattan; fourth, Prakash Sadaram; third, Gowradai Pooran; second Joel Pharous and the crowd, without even hearing the announcement of the name of the winner herself, went wild cheering on and screaming.
It was their fellow Berbician who had done them very proud. It was a fitting moment, a proud moment, a momentous moment, to hear the name Gail Ann Singh, echoed by Mahadeo as the young lady placed her hands upon her face in disbelief or joy, whichever, and immediately embraced Mahadeo.
The other finalists were presented with their cheques. Fifth Prize, $50,000; fourth prize $100,000; third Prize $250,000; and second prize $500,000.
Singh received the gigantic keys to her new car and the excited and ecstatic look on her face was evident since she was the centre of attention, the new star to join her male counterpart, Brandon Harding.
The nurse who is employed with Dr Ramesh Sugrim’s clinic at Williamsburgh, said that even though she campaigned in Rose Hall Town, “people were doing it on their own…they were supporting me”.
The 11 finalists take the stage for one final time on Friday evening in Berbice.
She added that the idea to enter the competition in September was not hers but that of her friend, Dr Sugrim. “He made me do it. Since I was little, I was singing with him at [Hindu] functions and I went forward and this was the end result”.
Last year at the Providence Stadium, she won the Annual Duck Curry Competition and received First Prize.
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