– proprietor says investment a demonstration of confidence in Guyana’s investment climate
A Roti Hut, Rituals Coffee House and Nestle Ice Cream Parlour facility, a huge investment of more than $100M, was opened yesterday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, testimony of the business community’s confidence in Guyana’s investment climate.

The grand opening was held at the Departure Lobby, which saw members of the business community, Muslim community, and Ministers of the Government present.

Also, $500,000 was handed over to Red Cross Society General Secretary, Ms. Dorothy Fraser who received it on behalf of the Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home.

Chief Executive Officer of Roti Hut/Rituals Guyana, Mr. Naeem Nasir, in his address at the opening of his company’s newest venture, said: “We live in a country that is peaceful and stable, noting, “I thank the creator for the ability to live in what I have always termed as one of the last unspoilt places on earth.”

To this end, he thanked the President and his government for all his efforts in keeping the country this way.

He said the companies  –Bakewell, Anisa, Roti Hut and Prestige Distributors have built a name on quality, noting: “For too long, Guyanese accepted second quality standards and second quality service. The time has come now for the Guyanese consumer to demand better.”

“The Cheddi Jagan International Airport is the place where every visitor to this land will form its first and its last impressions,” he noted.

“Success story”: President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the gathering. Sitting at the head table from left are: Chairperson Shaikh Moen-ul-Hack;  Chief Executive Officer of Roti Hut/Rituals Guyana, Mr. Naeem Nasir; Chairman/Franchisor of Rituals Coffee House, Mr. Mario Sabga-Aboud; and Export Development Manager of Nestle, Puerto Rico, Ms. Nilsa Andino. (Adrian Narine photo)

He thanked Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad for his challenge in making this possible, and disclosed that the Ritual Coffee, Roti Hut and the Nestle Store will get going on the departure area at 2:30 hrs until after lunch when there is no more departing flights and then the arrival side will be opened from 14:30 hrs to 2:30 hrs providing a 24 hours service to customers which is something new.

He said the stores represent an investment of in excess of $100M, noting: “When we started out, we never thought that we would have reached this stage, but it is here and it is ready to go.”

“The opening of these stores represents the stability and the confidence in the ability of the Government to maintain a positive investment climate in Guyana,” he declared.

Export Development Manager of Nestle, Puerto Rico, Ms. Nilsa Andino said Nestle is recognised as the number one ice cream company around the world, and they believe in providing consumer with high quality products with a wide range of products that respond to consumers need including Guyanese and the tourists visiting.

She said the company has been present in the market for more than 40 years, and have identified the Guyanese market as one of the key growth markets for the Caribbean region.

Chairman/Franchisor of Rituals Coffee House, Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Mario Sabga-Aboud, said this facility brought up the number of coffee houses in the Caribbean to 74 which is present in nine islands.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his feature address, congratulated the Nasir family, and expressed appreciation for the work they have done over the many years, starting from very humble beginnings, but with “hard work”, they  have made tremendous progress.

SUCCESS STORIES
He said, “And we need in this country to highlight these stories – the stories of success. If we do this more often, we can inspire a whole generation of young people to emulate these examples.”

“And day after day they are going to do the things and take the necessary actions that would transform our country into the place that we all wish it would be, a place that we could all live comfortably in, a place where we can have our material and other needs, spiritual as well, satisfied.”

The President said the family is an example to all of Guyana, and also thanked Chairman of Rituals Coffee for the kind words about Guyana and its people.

“…and to recognise his pioneering story, and to say how fortunately Trinidad and Tobago, and many other Caribbean countries are in having such pioneers,” he noted.

He stressed that Guyana, for a very long time, the entrepreneurial class because of state policies practically disappeared.

“We start from a negative position, and we are in process of incubating new entrepreneurs – building from humble beginnings, like Naeem has done, a new generation of leaders in the business community, that would grow, prosper and drive our country forward,” he explained.

He said the task is magnified because of the absence of an entrepreneurial class that has had several years of development.

“Like many other things in Guyana, we are still in the pioneering stage so we are happy for your example, too,” the President expressed.

However, he observed that of recent, there has been a tremendous burst of energy in Guyana, and this energy and enthusiasm is being driven largely by Guyanese, and “that is the way it should be.”

He also noted that there has been fairly large foreign investments, too, as well as a lot of small and medium size investments by Guyanese, and some who live abroad coming back and creating the environment that builds on itself because of the demonstration effect, such as fast food, banking services, housing schemes, entertainment facilities, and stores.

“It’s happening. There is a greater focus on filling a gap that had developed in our society for a long time,” he reiterated.
He said this include good quality service, which people are increasingly demanding.

“And what is more interesting about this burst of energy is that this is all taking place at a time when the world is in recession.”
“I think we have turned a corner in our country, if we can continue with this energy, and if we can maintain a propitious environment, not just a fiscal environment but a political environment – an environment that is friendly to people who create value in our society then I think that there is no turning back for Guyana,” he insisted.