WHAT A SHAME!
Property dispute between business giants destroys businesses of small entrepreneurs
THIS is supposed to be the season of peace and goodwill, a season when one should only wish others well.

Demolition crew at work on this business-place on Regent Street yesterday. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Actually, at all times man should not wish his fellow man ill, but even persons not of the Christian community honour and celebrate the message of hope and goodwill brought to earth by the coming of the Christ child, albeit Christians term him the saviour, while those who follow the Jewish and Moslem faiths see him as a prophet of the Lord’s.

Within the confines of the law some persons are aspiring to better their lives and lifestyles by investing what may very well be their life savings, even borrowing to invest in small businesses.

The Gafoor father and son duo, having evolved from days of struggle to a superlatively successful business conglomerate, recognise the imperative of helping their fellow humans, as proscribed by the teachings of the Koran and their own humane principles, to empower themselves through dignified means, thus they established the Small Business Development Fund, among their other charities.

Their religion dictates that they use their resources to reduce poverty in mankind, and they have faithfully adhered to that precept by empowering the vulnerable through several initiatives.

In diverse ways the son, Sattaur, emulates his deceased father by trying to alleviate the sufferings and bring a little comfort and joy to the lives of the vulnerable and the suffering.

One of his most recent activities was the distribution of toys to the children who are currently patients in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), which is one of the many programmes he drives during this season, as a matter of fact, throughout the year, to make life a little better for others.

Within the framework of helping others to develop small businesses a building located in Regent Street, which was bought by a branch of the Gafsons conglomerate, Guyana Realty Investments Ltd, from the reputed wife of deceased Stanley Collymore, was leased to the owners of two small businesses.

Subsequent to the purchase of the building by Guyana Realty Investments Ltd, the children of the deceased former owner disputed the rights of the reputed widow and sold the property to a multi-billionaire and very well-known businessman, who was fully aware that the property was in dispute and that a fellow businessman had already invested in the property.

The latter attempted to force the owners of the small businesses to enter into a lease arrangement with him, even though their rentals were paid up to date to Guyana Realty Investments Ltd, and even though an order of the court through an injunction previously issued in September of 2009 in favour of Guyana Realty Investments Ltd adjured him from so doing.

In what was clearly a case of contempt of the court, he directed his agents to dismantle and demolish the disputed premises, destroying millions of dollars worth in investments by the owners of the small businesses that were located on the property.

What a shame! This man has more money than he can spend in several lifetimes, yet he has no qualms in destroying the livelihood of two young entrepreneurs who took bank loans to invest in their businesses to capture this season’s opportunities.

He could not wait on man’s court for a determination on the matter, and maybe he is rich and powerful enough to hold sway there; but the justice of God’s court is maybe not swift, but is certainly sure.

While some persons try to empower their fellow humans, others attempt to disempower and debase them, and the lack of the quality of mercy is the yardstick by way of which their sense of humanity is judged.