Texila University launches Indo-Caribbean Society website

The Texila American University on Wednesday evening officially launched their Indo-Caribbean Society’s (ICS) website, which is expected to unify Caribbean interests by fostering collaborative action between organisations and businesses.
The society was initiated by Texila’s team and interest groups from Caribbean regions, mainly from Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

Dr George Norton
New website

The idea for the formation of the society came in response to queries of ways in formulating tangible links to India and its diaspora outside of the mainstream connections.
The society was envisioned in 2018 with the mission to unify and advance Indo Caribbean interest by fostering joint and collaborative action among different people, organisations and businesses.
The society aims to create awareness about the heritage between India and Caribbean communities, especially among the younger generation. Furthermore, the society aims to promote goodwill, friendship and unity among the Indian and Caribbean communities, and to organise social, economic, health and cultural activities to achieve the goals and objectives of the society.
ICS will focus on the following areas: cultural community, research and education, youth engagement, business networking and workshops, seminars, conferences and exhibitions.
Speaking at the launching of the website, Chief Speaker Dr George Norton welcomed the initiative, noting that it is coming at a time when social integration around the world is increasing.
“At a time when social integration is becoming more prevalent globally, the establishment of this society seems most appropriate…as hospitable as Caribbean people are, Indian nationals coming to the Caribbean will still encounter notable cultural differences, and I believe that this society can provide the requisite guidance for the smooth and comfortable transition, especially for youths and students seeking to settle in these parts,” Dr Norton said.
Moreover, Norton expressed his delight with the aim of ICS, which is to unify and advance Caribbean interests.
“Collaboration is key. Partnering and fostering good relations with different people is noble,” Dr Norton said.
Also delivering remarks was the newly appointed Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Captain Gerry Gouveia, who also welcomed the launch, and said that any business-to-business organisation is appreciated at a time when Guyana and its people are preparing for a new economic boom.
“As I look at some of the goals and objectives of this organisation, it actually speaks to business-to-business. In a country like ours, I believe everyday our leaders must think of how do we create jobs for our young people. We have thousands of young people graduating from the University of Guyana every year, and the big challenge is how do we create jobs for them — proper paying jobs that will allow them to live their lives with dignity and pride and self-esteem? And we don’t have to continue the tradition of losing our young and educated people, and so we have to create that environment; and so this society is a good thing, because we are talking about business-to-business,” the PSC Chair remarked.
Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President, Nicholas Boyer, shared similar sentiments and noted that India has a lot to offer Guyana.
“I think that this initiative by Texila is one that we should really think of as important; because, as a large democracy and world economic power, India has much to offer us; from information technology, services, manufacturing and agriculture, there is much that we could learn,” Boyer said.
Following the launch, recognition was given to several contributors and sponsors of the website, including Ravi Dev, Attorney- at-Law Nigel Hughes, and Vishnu Doerga of ActionCoach Guyana.