-25 years of outstanding service to the insurance industry
THE PRIVATE Sector is the engine of economic growth and social and infrastructural development of any country.  Civilization has evolved phenomenally from the Stone Age, and this is indisputably because of some brilliant and creative visionaries throughout the world who have blazed trails on which the rest of mankind have trod. Within Guyana’s developmental landscape we first had the colonials, who were undoubtedly profit-motivated, but who, especially the Dutch, built social and physical infrastructures that are enduring.  Then the African slaves who, after emancipation, laboriously saved their hard-earned pittances which they invested into entire communities that they subsequently bequeathed their offspring.
The Portuguese and Chinese established their peculiar lines of businesses, which projected Guyana on the world map of entrepreneurdom.  Guyana’s first peoples, by their way of life, have preserved this country’s pristine rainforests so that President Bharrat Jagdeo could bargain at world fora for interchangeable bargains through Guyana’s LCDS, whereby Guyana could be financially compensated for the preservation of our rainforests so that the world can breathe.
And the indentured Indian immigrants of Guyana, who toiled and sacrificed unremittingly to create synergies that could propel their offspring on a trajectory that continually build on its own momentum so that descendants of that once very-oppressed people could scale the absolute heights in every area of endeavour, many of whom have evolved and grown to become shining stars in the firmament of global super-achievers.
Indisputably one of the brightest of those stars is Bish Panday, who embodies all things that a man should be – as a citizen of a country, as an entrepreneur, as a cultural and social activist, as a son and a sibling, as a friend and a business associate, as an exemplary husband and father, and most importantly as a human being with a super-abundance of civic-consciousness.
There was a time when Bish Panday had to study under street lights after a hard day’s work to earn an income to help maintain his siblings.  Today the entrepreneurial dynasty he has built from extremely humble beginnings, is solidly entrenched in the economic fabric of the land, and Bish Panday and his wife Ahilia are themselves providing light – literally and figuratively, to hundreds of homes nationwide.
Last Wednesday evening the Panday family celebrated, in fine style at a cocktail reception, the special milestone of the silver anniversary of their company, P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd at the Georgetown Club with scores of friends and colleagues from all walks of life.  The beautiful dйcor, executed by Mrs. Ahilia Panday, lent to the ambience of elegant grace in the renowned and elite club   
At Wednesday evening’s Silver Jubilee celebratory cocktail event MC Ron Robinson described Bish as being highly popular both at home and throughout the Diaspora and outlined a brief biography of Bish’s professional career.
Biographical sketch and genesis of P&P
After a brief stint as a legal clerk Bish joined Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire Insurance Company as a junior clerk in May of 1974 – 36 years ago.  After a series of rapid promotions – an indication and portent of things to come, he was appointed Deputy Manager of the insurance company in 1981, which was a position he held until December of 1983, when he left to join Hand-in-Hand Fire Insurance Company as the General Manager.  He served in that capacity until December of 1985, the fateful year that he co-founded P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd, becoming sole owner within six years, in 1991.
From relative obscurity as a very insignificant player in the private sector Bish Panday has scaled the greatest heights in achievement, serving as Director on several Boards, and as Chairman on the Guyana National Newspapers Board; GDB – television as it then was, according to Ron, and the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation.  He was also a hands-on dynamic member of the Interim Management Council (IMC), the disbanding of which left the city resembling its former state as the Garden City and the City Council in the black for the first time in decades.
Civic-minded Bish has also served as Vice-Chairman on the Board of Guyana Stores Ltd, as well as Commissioner on the Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commission.  His love of sports compelled him to invest heavily of his time and resources – serving as Secretary of the Georgetown Cricket Board for eighteen years, and also as President of the Georgetown Cricket Association.  For durations of over a decade P&P has also supported and facilitated the sporting disciplines of table tennis, cycling, horse racing, athletics and motor racing, among others.  The brokerage has also strongly supported the cultural and educational sectors; as well as other events, activities, distressed individuals, especially those suffering from life-threatening ailments, and even countries facing disaster.
Bish has served two terms as President of the Insurance Institute of Guyana (IIG) and is currently Chairman of the Board of Governors of the IIG, Director of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, and member of the Implementation Committee of the Georgetown Municipality under the Chairmanship of Keith Burrowes.
To the amusement of the guests, Bish disclaimed, through Ron, responsibility for the fiasco of the operations of the current municipality, and the current state of broadcasting in Guyana and cricket in the West Indies.

Serving with integrity and trust
Bish told the special invitees present, among whom numbered consistent P&P wellwisher, Prime Minister, Honourable Samuel Hinds, Ministers of the Government, Members of the Opposition, leaders of industry and the professions, clients, and friends and relatives of the family, that the Silver Jubilee observations was an occasion for celebration of the company’s success, as well as a time for reflection in relation for the lessons learnt over the years.
He said that P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd can today be considered a successful business outfit and an accepted and respected member of the business community.
Alluding to the “particular economic circumstances of Guyana” which the company had to navigate into calmer fiscal waters, Bish noted that P&P has succeeded in acquiring a solid reputation for reliability, quality service and trustworthiness, stressing that success in business is always the result of hard work, value to client, and efficiency of service.  Stating that hard work was the basis of his company’s success and the acquisition of a growing list of clients that encompasses the industrial, commercial, financial and professional sectors, Bish said that the company is founded on the principles of utmost good faith and the twin values of integrity and trust, together with a high level of professionalism.
Stating that the company has the responsibility of ensuring that its clients obtain the best that the market can offer, Bish said that this can only be accomplished by continued investment in human capital by way of training and development.  He reflected that P&P has been one of the strongest supporters of Insurance Education in Guyana and the Insurance Institutes over its 25 years of existence.  The company has encouraged and financially supported its staff complement to enhance their skills.
According to Bish, it is wise analyses of the market and services on offer that enable prudent management of their clients’ business that has guaranteed the security of clients’ interests, for which P&P has acquired an admirable track record, and he said that the collapse of the international giant AIG and CLICO is a timely reminder that vigilance on behalf of the company’s clients is an imperative.
At this point Bish thanked the company’s clients, friends, supporters, well-wishers, and its affiliate insurance agencies, without whom he said P&P could not have been as successful as it is.  He pledged to continue to optimize the services offers to its clients.
Finance Minister says season is time of reflection on greater values in society
Finance Minister Ashni Singh said that Christmas is a season that invariably causes reflections on the story of Christmas and the lessons taught by the life that Christ lived.  Also, he said that in the midst of celebratory activities, this special season causes reflections on the need for care and compassion and the greater values and virtues of service and sacrifice for the good of humanity – values that he considers advisable for members of society to recommit and rededicate themselves to, especially if one endeavours to be part of any successful enterprise.
He opined that it is significant that the important anniversary and achievements of “…a company that started, without a doubt, very modestly, but which has now grown to be a significant player in Guyana’s financial services sector” is being celebrated during this special season.
Reflecting that retracing the journey that P&P has traversed since its beginnings in 1985 would indicate that the financial services sector at that time was a dramatically different sector than that obtaining today, Minister Singh suggested that, in the midst of current existential and operational dynamics one tends to lose sight of the changes, and recognition of the magnitude of the changes that have taken place over the passage of time.  In this context, according to Minister Singh, Guyana’s Financial Services Sector presents a good example of optimal change for an improved and enhanced sector.
He reminded the guests that when Bish started this enterprise twenty-five years ago, there were severe restrictions on the movement of even the smallest amount of foreign currency, with bureaucracy and red tape tying every transaction in sometimes tangled knots; and the entire banking sector was state-owned – at a time when credit cards and ATMs did not even exist in Guyana but were only seen on foreign television programmes.
Entrepreneurs have overcome challenging circumstances
Speaking of the dramatic changes of the world during the past 25 years, the Finance Minister said that none of the characteristics in the financial sector of 25 years ago exist today, when Guyana boasts a completely liberalized financial sector that has embraced the most modern technologies.
According to Minister Singh “…were we to go today into any financial services provider – the services that are provided, the technology that is utilized, the quality with which we are presented, I believe that these can compete with the best anywhere else in the world….
“….and this is undoubtedly to the credit of governmental policies; but it is also, very importantly, to the credit of the many entrepreneurs, the many businesses, the many companies that have contributed to this transformation – and today we celebrate the silver anniversary of one of those companies that have played a part in this transformation.
“I don’t believe that there is anyone who could seriously question the fact that…and sometimes it takes people who have not been here for twenty-five years to say this….I don’t believe that there is anybody who would look at the Guyana of twenty-five years ago, and the Guyana of today, and not say that the Guyana of today is a dramatically different place from the Guyana of twenty-five years ago.  I don’t believe that there is anyone who would seriously question that assertion, and I wish on the occasion of P&P’s twenty-fifth anniversary to commend them for being an integral part of that transformation, because they represent an example of an entrepreneur – or a small group of entrepreneurs endeavouring in circumstances that…I am sure that we would all agree were challenging circumstances, but endeavouring to start a business enterprise – and persevering through times that inevitably would have been challenging; and building an enterprise that today we can justifiably be proud of:  So Bish, for that I commend you, and I congratulate you.  I know that you are committed to ensuring that the growth and development that you have achieved over the first twenty-five years will continue…I know that you are not resting on your laurels.
“I am pleased to be here, as you celebrate this 25th anniversary; and even as I congratulate you, I am pleased to extend to you every good wish for another twenty-five years of resounding success and continued growth, success, and prosperity. Congratulations!”
Awarding long-serving employees
At the conclusion of the formalities long-serving employees were awarded for their loyalty, commitment and dedication to the company, after which only Panday son, Vikash, doing his parents proud, suavely and professionally delivered the vote of thanks.
Bish Panday is a special breed of human being who are role models for the current generation to emulate because, in the current societal landscape, where there are myriads of opportunities provided the poor to access an education and entities to facilitate wealth-creational opportunities, it is unforgivable that strong young men are still resorting to poverty as a criterion and an excuse for robbing persons and invading the privacy of homes to steal, and even kill, and strong messages by the law enforcers are needed to be sent to these murderous and opportunistic goons who shun hard work in favour of thievery.
The pioneering giants of industry – Toolsie Persaud, Sattaur Gafoor, Edward B Beharry, Kayman Sankar, John Fernandes, and some of the younger entrepreneurs of today, such as Bish Panday, did not even own shoes in their boyhood years, yet, like a plethora of others in various areas of endeavour they tower like the Colossus in their respective histories of achievements.
Government’s sound fiscal policies, coupled with the developmental synergies of Guyana’s Private Sector, has strengthened Guyana’s macro-economic fundamentals, to the extent where even the earth shaking  devastation of the economy of the powerful first-world nations has hardly caused a ripple in Guyana’s economic waters.
Kudos to the Bish Pandays of Guyana.