IT is difficult to believe that a child from the countryside of Guyana who has a poor background would one day become a highly successful entrepreneur; but the dynamic Roshan Khan defied all odds and now sits at the helm of one of the most successful security companies in Guyana.

EARLY YEARS
Roshan Khan was born at Nigg Settlement on the Corentyne Coast in Region Six on April 1st, 1955. He grew up in Skeldon, further up the Corentyne Coast, and attended the Skeldon Anglican School. When asked if he is an Islamic scholar, Roshan Khan replied, “I am more of an articulator on Islam and religion. As a matter of fact, religion is my hobby.”

Roshan grew up in the era when there were no cell phones, televisions, or other modern gadgets. The fun in his days was derived from pure creative abilities. He would make toys from cotton reels, rubber bands, candles and pointer. Cricket was a favourite pastime, and the absence of a ball did not halt proceedings; empty milk tins, awara seeds, and even small coconuts were handy replacements. He participated in many bush-cooks, with contents being secretly acquired from home. Fruits and sugar cane were rarely gifts, but were picked from the trees of unaware owners. Moco-Moco trees made great boats, and provided plenty of entertainment for him and his friends.

But there was always a quieter side to this young man. “I would often go to the sea walls and sit quietly. Sometimes I spoke to the sea and wind, and sometimes I felt they spoke to me,” he confided.

“I have profound memories of some of my early mentors –African teachers who were very instrumental in my training and education. There was Mr Boston, Mr Peters, Mr Lancelot Leitch, Ms Ross, Ms Tyndall and Ms Yvonne Heywood Benn. I not only grew intellectually, but learned eloquence of posture and speech. Free lessons were given on Saturdays for those who needed it.”

BUSINESS
Roshan always had an attraction for the Police Force. His father was a policeman, and had retired as Commissioner of Police (ag). “My father’s name was Chandra Lall, but I changed my name to Roshan Khan at the age of 18,” he explained.

He travelled to Canada and studied Police Science at the John Abbott College. He later did a number of courses with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), with special focus on ‘Citizen Urban Policing’.
Wherever he went, he found himself always chatting with guards, cops or soldiers.

After completing his studies, he returned to Guyana and entered the Guyana National Service (GNS). He was sent to Kimbia as a Trainee Instructor, but was soon earmarked to be the Career Guidance Instructor. It was at Kimbia that he came to understand a great deal about discipline in the military, and obtained fond memories of cleaning fish without a knife.

Roshan did not complete his stint in the National Service. He withdrew, and took a job as a Supervisor at GEB. “I had a great talent for security, and became focused on it. Mentors like Mr Kirkpatrick encouraged and trained me in Ethics and Private Security Administration.
Wherever I worked, I always gave two hours extra work. This made management recognise me, and they began to push me.”

Very soon, he began to encounter problems from supervisors and other senior staff, who had been working much longer than him. Pretty soon he was tagged to be marketing manager, but jealousy raised its ugly head. While his mentor and protector was out of the country, he was unceremoniously fired. “You have two minutes to exit the compound!” he was told. This was a devastating blow for him.

“They accused me of saying that the Sky Lab should fall on G.E.B. This was a total fabrication, of course. I lost my job because I was too dynamic and hardworking, and was seen as a threat to some,” Roshan confided.

He had poured all of his energies into this job because he wanted to make it his career; now he had lost it. At first he was demoralised and depressed.
“I had just been married, and my first child had arrived. Now the only thing I was good at I had lost. I had lost it not for something bad, but for being too good,” he declared.

Roshan jumped onto his motorcycle and rode onto the newly-built Demerara Harbour Bridge. He was fed up. He felt like riding off the side and ending it all.

“Suddenly I got lost,” he said. “A voice spoke to me. The voice was that of one of my African masters and mentors. I immediately recognised it.”

VOICE: “Why must you fear? For when you were nothing, I made you; when you had nothing, I took care of you. Fear not, and grieve not; you will start a business on your own.”

ROSHAN: “I have no money.”
VOICE: “You don’t need money!”
ROSHAN: “But I have nothing.”
VOICE: “You have everything. You have you!”
VOICE: “Go now! Now! Now! Start your business. Do what you normally do”.

It was at that moment that Roshan saw his company’s logo for the first time. That image remained with him. When he caught himself, he was at the same spot he last remembered being, but his motorcycle was pointing dangerously towards the side.

The whole experience left him feeling calm and optimistic. He turned his motorcycle around and headed back to G/t. The last words still rang in his ears. “Do what you normally do.”

He was Supervisor/Inspector, and would go to the different sites to check on the company’s guards. How would this help him to start a business? Checking his pocket, he found $7.50. With that he bought 1½ gallons of gasoline for his cycle. Now he was totally broke. On impulse, Roshan stopped at Hong Kong restaurant in La Penitence and spoke to the owner. “How are things, Chinee? How yo guard man working?”

The Chinese owner was animated. “Guard man is plenty problem! Always drunk, sleeping plenty and absent plenty!”

Roshan jumped at the opening. “I will check your guard man six times every night for only $10 a week.”
Chinee agreed instantly with only one reservation. “Wa happen if guard man na come to wuk?”
Roshan was quick to calm his ears. “I gon check my other sites and come back an stay hay fo de same money”.

Chinee smiled contentedly. They had a deal. This was his first client, and it happened so suddenly and simply that he was galvanized into action.

His next stop was at the Circle C Bar. He made a similar proposal, and it was immediately accepted. The owner asked him to check two locations. He was up and running. Adrenalin was flowing freely. C.J’s Thrift Shop was next. He met the owner and got 3 more spots. That faithful day he was able to secure 10 sites.

Roshan reminisces aloud: “If I had said I’d do this tomorrow or I’d do this next week, RK would not have existed today. ‘Go now! Now! Now!’ has stuck with me,” he confessed.

“One of my early disappointments was with a large local pharmacy. I went to see the owner, and she looked me in the face and told me bluntly: ‘Go get big, and when you get big, come back to me.’ I never returned,” he said.

“I continued working round the clock. The Sindee People – Indian nationals — gave their sites. Many others, like Beepat & Saywack, did the same,” he said.

Unable to afford uniforms, Roshan was forced to develop a unique and ingenious alternative. He bought some cloth with $20 he borrowed, and made attractive arm bands. With the aid of 50¢ pins, his guards turned up for work. The clients were satisfied.

“Although I did not have much capital, I had personality and drive. I found myself being very successful at negotiations, and had excellent communication with customers. I have always remained loyal to my customers, workers, and those to whom I offer my services. I have one very firm principle from which I have never departed: Give money to those who give you money,” he explained.

“I remember many in the security industry predicting that RK would stop quickly. Some gave it 6 weeks, some 6 months. My first office was my typewriter on my lap, sitting on my motor cycle. After a while, I got help from friends. I would pay my workers in Charlie Khan’s store and use King Creole to meet with and discipline guards. I did everything myself.”

VOICE: “You have you!”
Roshan Khan now has the following responsibilities: He sits on the Prison Sentence Management Board; He is Director Ambassador of Peace – Universal Peace Federation; He is a Conflict Transformation Specialist; He sits on the National Commission of Law and Order; He is an author and poet, besides doing many other things. He is the Chairman/Founder and CEO of: (1) RK’s Guyana Security Services; (2) RK’s Institute of Motoring; (3) RK’s Ecostar Motes and (4) RK’s Dragnet Satellite Tracking.

Roshan Khan respects all religions and races. This can be seen in one of his favourite quotes: “Surely, those who believe, and those who are Jews, and those who are Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in God Almighty and the last day and does good, they will have their reward with their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.” The Holy Quran (2:62)

By Neil Primus