–in climate of abundant investment opportunities
THE culture of small businesses in Guyana has been strengthened by the addition of another member with the launching Friday of Aeropost, an Online shopping and shipping service. Aeropost opened its Guyana office in response to a call for persons to take advantage of the services online shopping offers. Speaking at the launch, Country Representative and former Island magistrate Lester Caesar explained that Aeropost has been in existence for the past twenty-five years, and has offices in several countries around the globe, including North America and the Caribbean region.
According to Mr Caesar, persons desirous of utilizing Aeropost’s services can so do by using the company’s debit card or their personal card. Those without personal debit cards will be charged a fee to use the company’s card. Caesar emphasized that the process will be a secure one, as Aeropost has been engaged in such activities for years now; and moreover, representatives from a leading Caribbean bank were on hand to reinforce the point of security arrangements in place for persons who wished to use their personal debit cards to do business with the newly launched company.
While there is a cost for signing up to do business with the company as a registered customer, anyone who hopes to register with the company will not have to pay that fee, as registration for the next six months will be free.
Mr. Caesar told the gathering that the company will also be handling customers’ business at Customs House and the wharves for anything shipped through Aeropost.
Aeropost, according to the country manager, also has a peak alert system that allows customers and potential customers to track their shipments, and get all the information about dimensions, freight and cost even before they ship. Added to that, once registered with the company, a customer will immediately be awarded an address in Miami to which their shipment can be sent in-transit, since some businesses within the United States do not facilitate direct shipping of customers’ items outside of the United States.
Customers are also informed that Aeropost has customer service representatives who offer online service twenty-four hours a day.
Also present at the small launching ceremony on Friday was Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Derek Cummings. In his address to those gathered, Mr Cummings pointed out that a large amount of Guyana’s gross domestic product is generated by numerous small businesses operating around the country.
While admitting that those small businesses do not individually employ large numbers of persons, he reminded that they are credited collectively with providing employment for thousands of Guyanese.
Commercial Officer at the United States Embassy, Mr Eric Moore, expressed sentiments similar to those of Mr Cummings when he pointed out that, ever so often in the United States, small businesses are referred to as the backbone of that country. He pointed out that a large number of Guyanese live and work in the United States, and as such, the launching of the Aeropost business is expected to greatly facilitate those living on both sides of the ocean.
In a direct reference to himself, Mr Moore pointed out that he recently commenced employment as the commercial officer at the embassy, and he experienced much delays and hardship in getting some of his personal belongs to these shores. He deemed this a bugbear, despite the fact that it was being handled by the United States Embassy. According to him, he is consequently not ignorant of the hassle that ordinary persons experience in trying to ship packages across the ocean on their own without influence.
Aeropost will be providing Guyanese with the opportunity to purchase and ship items from associated stores in the United States. The items can range from stationery to clothing to gadgets and other items.