October 20, 2008 – Georgetown, Guyana: Digicel, the leading mobile telecommunications provider in Guyana, observed World Food Day 2009 with residents of Dharm Shala. This has become an annual tradition of the company, which allows employees to take time off from their busy schedules to provide meals and other support for the less fortunate.

Digicel Head of Marketing, Donovan White, said “it is important for persons to remember that there are some among us  who do not have access to basic necessities like food. And with the current global economic crisis, it is an even greater problem. At Digicel, we like to remember those persons and we encourage our employees to participate fully and share in the joy of helping the less fortunate.”

He also encouraged other corporate companies to join the fight to eliminate hunger in the society. “We have to capacity to help fight hunger and we should all play our role as corporate citizens. Digicel will continue to assist organizations like the Dharm Shala not only on World Food Day but at other times of the year as well.”

Co-ordinator of the Dham Shala and granddaughter of the founding father, Kella Ramsaroop, thanked Digicel for its support.

Ramsaroop said, “We are always grateful for Digicel's support, especially on World Food Day. World Food Day is a very important day around the world. Millions of people don’t get as much as one meal a day, even persons right here in Guyana. We at the Dharm Shala believe that everyone has the right to food and shelter.”

The Dharm Shala is a charitable organisation devoted to the poor, destitute and unfortunate of Guyana. This organisation has been providing food and shelter for the less fortunate for over eighty years. 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “With an estimated increase of 105 million hungry people in 2009, there are now 1.02 billion malnourished people in the world, meaning that almost one sixth of all humanity is suffering from hunger.”

The theme for this year’s World Food Day was “Achieving food security in times of crisis.”