FROM personal loss to building a security empire, Rajiv Singh says resilience shaped his success

WHEN Rajiv Singh lost both his parents during his teenage years, he knew that despite the challenges and the loss, he had to become a success. Today, he is an established entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Blackwater Tactical Security Guyana. Sitting down with the Pepperpot Magazine this week, Singh shared his story. From his early days of struggle in Bartica, which built character, to his slow and deliberate steps into the world of security, Singh credits his foundation for his success.

Singh spent most of his childhood in Bartica, Region Seven, being raised by his grandmother, a childhood that shaped his character and taught him lessons he still carries today. Singh had what he described as an old-fashioned upbringing, with his grandmother emphasising the lessons of humanity, humility and the importance of hard work. “My grandmother wakes up at 3 o’clock every morning. She did not wake me up at that time. But I was supposed to get up at a certain time. She don’t like when the sun rise before I wake up. So she played a role that moulded me to this point in my life,” he added. “When I get up in the morning, I got to look after the plants. I got to fetch water from the river.”

These lessons, coupled with challenges, gave Singh a strong sense of identity and determination very early on. Recounting his childhood years, he shared that the bullying he faced at both home and school played a major role in building his resilience, sense of self and belief in himself. While at school, Singh says he “had to act cool”; this act soon shifted into self-belief. “With all of this happening in my childhood growing up, I had to adopt. It was making me somebody all the time. I would not see it then. But I will see it later, which I am now seeing. Why? You understand?” While he was not sure how he was going to accomplish it, Singh knew he had to make his family proud, adding, “A lot of my family members from then, they used to talk me down. A lot of them, oh, you’re never going to amount to nothing. So I built this mindset someday, looking at myself and all the people that are saying that you’re not going to be anybody. I got to prove them wrong.”

Singh soon found his route to success through his passion for law enforcement. After leaving school early, Singh did not take the conventional route of signing up to be a police officer; rather, his first real steps into law enforcement came through his love for the job. Being young and constantly surrounded by police officers—his friends and mentors—it was not long before he knew enough about the job to be hired. “I was listening to reports. I was looking at the books, and me, this young guy, around the police, looking, seeing and observing what is going on, the way the police were dealing with reports,” he added. “One day, there was a senior police officer who came in and said, you know what? This little boy is always around this station. And we went on foot patrol. I started to like it, and I liked the job.”

Singh took an interest in the field while he was still a teenager, describing this tumultuous time. He shared that while it was his passion, it was not a profession his family wanted him in, particularly his parents. Despite this, he continued his work with the force, gaining knowledge and tactical skills while keeping it a secret from his parents. This would not be kept a secret for much longer, however, when a breaking news report captured Singh standing in uniform in the centre of a crime scene, his secret was exposed. “There I was, standing in the crime scene, and it was breaking news on Channel 6, where I was shown standing in front of a man lying on the ground. My sister saw that. She was excited and called my mother, who fainted.” Neither of his parents was happy with his choice, but Singh stood by it and continued his career.

Recounting this time, he shared that he was still a teenager, still stubborn and determined. The passing of his mother a short while after, followed by his father sometime later, was a major hurdle that brought with it countless challenges, financial and otherwise. While difficult—particularly when his mother had urged him to pick a different path—Singh says he stuck with his passion. Although at the time he was unsure and regretted his choice, today he says he is happy he stood by it. “The day before, my mom was talking to me, saying, I’m your mother. I know that you decided to go to the station. This is what my mom told me. I know this is what you love and I’m begging you to leave it. I’m begging you to look out for your father and your sister. She died on the bed,” he added.

While he had the expertise and drive, Singh lacked the capital to finance the business. Singh, however, was determined to make Blackwater Tactical Security Guyana a success. Through help from his friends and despite major financial constraints, the foundation of the business became a possibility. “I had no money for this business, nothing, nothing. I remember Blackwater Security was started and I built my logo on my phone. I remember calling my friend and I said, listen, I have no money. Can I borrow?” he said. Through hard work and dedication, coupled with his well-known appreciation for law enforcement, Singh was soon issued his licences to begin what would today be Blackwater Tactical Security.

Since its establishment, Blackwater Tactical Security has continued to grow and expand. Through innovation and collaboration, the business has become one of the country’s leading firms. The professionalism and tactical nature of the business have made it among the firms securing some of Guyana’s major events and international visitors. Even as CEO, Singh continues to be on the ground with his team. That commitment to continuous self-development, along with the knowledge he gained from older members of the field, is what Singh says has made both he and his business a success. “I always think climbing and associating myself with big men would give me guidance, knowledge of things that I would later experience.” Talking about the impact of his upbringing, he added, “With all of this happening in my childhood growing up, I had to adopt. It was making me somebody all the time. I did not see it then, but today I see it.”