Life skills empowered multi-talented entrepreneur who is now impacting the community meaningfully

DESPITE his humble beginnings, he always had a strong desire to succeed, even if it took a long time to realise his dreams. Andrew Anthony Haimraj waited his time, and today he is impacting lives positively.

The married father of three is utilising his skills and resources to support almost everyone he encounters daily.

As a multi-talented, self-taught person, Haimraj refused to give up and always knew he would benefit from being an all-rounder in life skills as time progressed and that it would be useful in building his future.

He was born on January 12, 1980, on Fort Island, Essequibo River, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). He came from a very simple family whose livelihood revolved around farming, fishing and logging to some extent.

He recalled that they basically lived off subsistence in the riverine area, where his extended family was spread across the Essequibo Islands, Bartica, Bonasika, Leguan, Hogg Island, and the coastline.

Haimraj stated that the generation’s main title is De Barros, which originated with his grandparents and later grew to more than 300 people.

The businessman reported that his family dynamics from his parents’ side are quite large. The extended family is huge, and he came from a home of three siblings.

At the primary level, Haimraj was successful and secured a place at Zeeburg Secondary School, and it was an achievement that would pave the way for his future.

He explained that back then, on Fort Island in the early 1990s, it was unheard of, so it was like moving mountains to get to a place like that.

Haimraj told Pepperpot Magazine that he started high school in 1991 and excelled in six subjects, which paved the way for him to enrol at the University of Guyana.

He added that he registered for Natural Science but settled into Computer Science and, after four years, graduated with a degree in Computer Science, but was unable to get a job, even though he was qualified.

However, he did not let that hurdle define his life, and the world of work took on a different meaning after struggling to get a job.

Haimraj said he did every other job possible to survive, and that is where he learnt real-life skills. Despite having the educational background, he was never exposed to and did not take the opportunity to do every type of work, from cutting grass and digging drains to plumbing, painting, mechanics, electrical work, and auto repairs.

This initiative helped to broaden his understanding of survival and working with people in communities and places, to the point that he had a whole host of things he understood how to do.

“My humble beginning led me to be like this until I got my first job with DDL Drinks Distribution Services, where I worked a bit as a computer operator, later moved straight into DDL, where I started as a computer specialist in IT, working a bit with DDL, then slipped over to Beharry, where I also worked for a while,” he said.

Haimraj told the Pepperpot Magazine that he then moved again. Each of these moves took a year or two before he landed a job at the airport, where he worked for three years as an IT Officer at CJIA from 2002 to 2004.

At CJIA, he established every aspect of the IT infrastructure. Since his arrival, there have been only a few independent computers, and most work has been done on paper. He was able to establish a full IT infrastructure, including servers and everything else, and contributed significantly to that area.

Haimraj pointed out that, over a three-year period, he kept moving on because, for him, it was never about giving up.

The pastor added that he moved into consultancy, so he worked with the Health Sector Development Unit under Dr Frank Anthony, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and later Dr Bheri Ramsarran as well.

In detailing his journey, Haimraj said he worked with both the private and public sectors, progressing from an IT beginner to an IT consultant over a total of seven years.

However, in his mid-30s and early 40s, he was married and had three children, and his involvement with the church began at age 16, when he was introduced by his late mother, who was truly an inspiration.

Haimraj related that from then until now, he has remained consistent in church and eventually became a pastor, in which role he is deeply involved in all church activities.

He noted that after he took early retirement, he diversified his business into AH Consultancy and also expanded it at the same time into IT electrical, covering low- and high-voltage. He did things like fire alarms, camera systems, doorbells, telephone wiring and then house wiring.

While doing these jobs, as a direct result of his expertise, he was able to put together plumbing, painting, and welding and became a point person.

Haimraj confirmed that after the consultancy it was only fitting to become an all-in-one person, seeing things out of place and starting work within a short period of time. He felt confident enough to move into contracting.

Being self-taught through books and never having formally studied it, he learned general services while working with many homeowners, adding almost every service. He would stand with them on their bare land and see them through to achieving the home as it should be.

Haimraj admitted that one of the biggest projects he ever did was his own home. Seven to eight years ago, he started his first major project, and since then, he has built many houses, completed numerous modernisation and renovation projects, and combined his knowledge with newer ideas to bring a modern touch to everything.

Meanwhile, during COVID-19, he went into construction and, about three years later, in 2021, he retired early, having acquired most of what he needed to be comfortable through working this way.

He retired into woodworking, building kitchens, furniture, and customising things people wanted. He then also joined a family business owned by his father-in-law.

Rose Ann’s Resort and Fun Park in Parika has been run by him for the past three years. He said it has been doing okay despite challenges and, of recent, he has returned to construction this year to help build dreams.

“Above all, I re-invented myself. Coming from an island, growing up thinking I would become a farmer or a fisherman, you can actually get an education at university level, always beating the odds, pushing against the wind. I never thought I would become the person I am today. I didn’t believe it, but the potential lies within you, and you must push,” he said.

Haimraj credits his success to his upbringing. His parents instilled values in him, so he grew up believing that the value of things, not the cost, matters.

In addition, he stated that his connection to faith also propelled him to remain grounded, and he has never regretted his decision to follow Jesus.

Being a pastor at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Tuschen, he said he would trade this for nothing and would lead everyone he can there.

Haimraj utilises his skills to help others and uplift almost everyone he touches through his work and faith.

He is known for his giving nature and his volunteerism in the community, where giving back is normal for him, having come from a humble background.