THOUGH businessman Audie Henriques has been doing a lot of good deeds, he generally prefers to stay out of the limelight due to his humble upbringing. But, thankful for his own successes, he has made a personal commitment of lending a helping hand to those in need.

Henriques told the Pepperpot Magazine that he grew up in Charlestown and always paid close attention to how benevolent his mother was to other people.

“Growing up I would see my mom about to eat two slices of bread and a cup of tea and if someone comes to ask for help, saying they are hungry she would take her meal and give it to that person and go to bed after having a cup of water,” he said.

Henriques related that he admired that trait in his mother to give the last of what she had to others in need and told himself he wanted to be like her when he grew up.

“I am benevolent to children because I like them a lot and I know what it is having little or nothing at all… I wasn’t born with it, I just got lucky and I do a lot of things for people because I want to,” Henriques said.

He is the owner of the popular business GameXpress, located on North Road, Lacytown-  a business he established in 2005 but had other businesses before that.
Henriques hosts a feeding programme for 25 to 30 children and apart form that does a lot of behind the scene donations to the less fortunate and school children.“It is my intention to help as many people as I can especially children, who have the potential but simply cannot afford to pay the passage to get to school or buy books because I barely have a primary school education much less a secondary one and I know the value of being educated, it can help take your family out of poverty and ultimately enhance the lives of your loved ones,” he said.

Taking on responsibility

Henriques stated that about five years ago he was invited by activist Mark Benschop through his local foundation to visit the squatting area aback of the Chinese Embassy and he was touched by the living conditions of folks there.
He related though that one thing stayed with him-  how clean the little house was and the children were disciplined and that is where he first met Garfield Dover, who was just 11 years old then.

“I was so impressed how mannerly this boy was and I pledged to help him in his studies right there because I knew they were decent people who just needed some assistance,” he stated.

At the time, Garfield Dover had just gotten his National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results and was excited to attend St. Rose’s High School.
Henriques made a promise to support Dover for the entire five years in high school, with books, transportation, and all the essentials to his education and stood by that promise to date.

In fact, the businessman also provided the fees for Dover to sit 14 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and he has passed with ‘flying colours’.

Dover got nine Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and two Grade Threes. This bit of information made Henriques very happy and he was so pleased with the boy’s performance, that he has further accepted the responsibility of paying his University of Guyana (UG) fees for four years.

Dover’s mother Maria Henry told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is very pleased with the assistance received from Henriques and his decision to continue helping her boy in his pursuit of tertiary education.

The single parent related that her son is very happy about pursuing his studies and has since expressed his gratitude to the businessman. The woman stated that her son has promised to do his best and will not disappoint Henriques, who has been encouraging him to continue to excel.

“Garfield is hoping to sit CAPE then he will return to the University of Guyana to continue in his studies as a medical student since he wants to become a doctor,” Henry said.

Good deeds
When Henriques and Benschop first met Dover they had also pooled their resources and constructed a house for another resident, Alexis Hardy, behind the Chinese Embassy (D’urban Backlands) because her little house was in a deplorable state.

Henriques also made a monetary contribution to the spouse of Kurt Duncan, who was fatally shot while trying to be a peacemaker in a heated row which erupted into a bar brawl in late July, this year. The money went towards Duncan’s funeral.

He is also contributing financially to a Linden student, who was placed at Queens College, a year ago but was unable to attend school because of financial difficulties. He is currently paying her transportation fees so that she can get to school.

Henriques said that a lot of times he would put off things that his own children wanted just to help someone. He added that he had to be firm with his children but today, he is pleased he was like that because his daughter would like to set up an organisation to help the needy, that is, after completing her studies at UG.

“Believe in yourself, no matter who, you are because you are unique and there is no one else like you and anything is possible and if we cooperate we can make the world a better place by lending a helping hand to those in genuine need,” he said.