Caribbean Net News

Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
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Jamaican telecom company expands overseas

Thursday, April 21, 2005

KINGSTON, Jamaica: In keeping with the ‘Buy Jamaican Initiative’, Jamaican comedian and actor, Oliver Samuels, joined forces with People’s Telecom Jamaica Limited (PTJ) last year.

Samuels officially launched his calling card, Oliver’s Farring Cyaad, in association with PTJ in Jamaica on December 13, 2004. Subsequently, PTJ launched the Oliver Samuels’ Yaad Cyaad- Florida in March 2005.

The Jamaican launch heralded a patriotic move on Samuels' part and was historic due to the involvement of Jamaica’s grand dame of culture, Louise ‘Ms. Lou’ Bennett, who called from Canada as a surprise to congratulate Samuels on his latest accomplishment.

Ms. Lou gave her heartiest congratulations and wished him all the best on this venture. A seemingly surprised Samuels then continued to share with Ms. Lou and those present how he got started in the performing arts and how honoured he felt when he performed with her.

Since its inception in July 2003, Jamaican telecommunications carrier People’s Telecom Jamaica Limited (PTJ) has had to overcome several setbacks; these setbacks serving to strengthen the company’s position and resilience in continuing operations in the Jamaican marketplace.

The Oliver’s Yaad Cyaad features Samuels giving instructions in Patois and Standard English. The unique feature of Patois prompts is a first for the international calling card industry.

“Oliver’s Yaad Cyaad is a very significant accomplishment for me as now persons can have a little taste of home whilst staying in touch with loved ones. Additionally, I am supporting a company that is 100% Jamaican even as I do my part to preserve our historic culture by infusing it with technology of the future. It is quite a unique and exciting calling card as it offers prompts in Patois, so when you use the card you can press one for English and two for Patois,” said Samuels.

Oliver’s Yaad Cyaad is the brainchild of Michael Dawson, acting CEO, PTJ who stated, “Oliver’s Yaad Cyaad is our flagship product; it epitomizes who we are and what we are trying to accomplish as an indigenous Jamaican company. We believe that the Florida marketplace needs a home grown carrier that is sensitive to the communication needs of Jamaicans and that is willing to deliver it at a bargain price. People’s Telecom is setting a new precedent in the international sphere.”

“What you see is what you get with People’s Telecom and all our product offerings. That is, currently most calling cards on the market state that they offer a whopping amount of talk time but unknown to the consumer is that these cards have hidden charges so if you don’t use the card all at once then the likelihood is that you do not get the advertised minutes. With Oliver’s Yaad Cyaad there is no hidden charge, no connection fee and certainly you get great rates & good quality. Our market research indicated that consumer loyalty is haphazard because calling cards come and go all too often. In direct response to this I can say on the record that this Jamaican calling card and by extension the company is here to stay," stated Renae Mills, PR & Marketing Manager, PTJ.

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