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US$35M Sheraton resort, hotel for CJIA
GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
–– to occupy over 100 acres of land, create about 200 jobs By Navendra Seoraj AN extravagant US$35 million (G$7B) Four Point Hotel and Resort will soon be erected on 100 acres of
land at Timehri, close to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). This mega project is the brainchild of the Beepats Distributing Company, which,
after careful analysis of Guyana’s prospects, has ventured out of its traditional area of investment and operations with this proposed project. Guyana’s burgeoning oil
A Four Point by Sheraton (Photo courtesy of Sheraton’s website)
and gas sector and its traditional and non-traditional industries have served as a
CEO of Go-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop and the Beepat investors after signing a MoU for the construction of a Four Point Hotel
magnet for investors, who, over the past few months, have been ‘pouring’ into this nation. This has in no way affected the confidence of indigenous investors like the Beepats Distributing Company, which has responded well to the changing economic conditions. The company announced that it will be entering the hotel industry with the establishment of a Marriot Four Point Sheraton Airport Hotel and Resort. The aim, as outlined by the investors, is to utilise their 100 plus acres of land at Timehri to create and develop a unique airport hotel and resort. For this, they have partnered with Arthur Warren Consultants who have secured their Letter of Inquiry (LOI) from Marriott’s Four Point Sheraton among a few other four-star rated hotels for this project. The resort is earmarked to have an official water amusement park with a bevy of activities such as ATV trails, bicycle trails, zip-lining, and a lazy river. Additionally, the investors aim to create a blue water white sand lagoon on the property developed by a U.S. firm. The airport hotel amenities will be similar to that of all four star hotels with a pool, gym, conference centre, restaurant et al, catering for business people, airline crew and staff, diplomats, and other travellers. The vision, as said by the investors, is to fashion the hotel to cater for the potential influx of visitors while pro-
viding a vacation destination which all Guyanese, Caribbean and foreign visitors would enjoy. GATEWAY TO THE INTERIOR The facility is anticipated to be a hub for eco-tourism and a gateway to Guyana’s other interior locations. Jonathan Beepat, who is set to spearhead the Beepats’ project, said: “We were very pleased and applaud the government’s efforts in being transparent to issue the RFP for Hotel Projects for all Guyanese entrepreneurial minds to have this opportunity. We decided to take advantage of the vision which our father, Dennis, had begun in the acquiring of land in the Timehri area many years ago.” While the company will be new to the hotel industry, the investors know and understand Guyana, as they have been here for generations and are accustomed to its business climate. “We will not be reinventing the wheel, but rather utilising our resource pool of partners in their respective fields that have the experience and knowledge of establishing and managing international branded hotels, resorts, and amusement parks around the world “We wanted to focus on providing value for our fellow citizens and thus why we decided to create a resort with the many amenities such as the lazy river, water park, blue lagoon et al so that Guyanese may have an international destination experience right in their own backyard,” Beepat said. TURN TO PAGE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
Entertainment switches rhythm –– with ‘players’ forced to examine lucrative alternatives amid COVID-19
By Rehana Ahamad THE dreaded COVID-19 pandemic has decimated almost every non-essential industry in the world, especially the entertainment industry. In Guyana, this tropical paradise where we thrive on social interactions, practising physical distancing has been quite heart-aching and maybe even traumatic for most Guyanese, perhaps even those who claim to be anti-social and introverted. It has been ten months since we have not been able to come together as a country to party, or even enjoy a good concert or stage show. Even more disheartened than patrons are business owners, artistes and events promoters who rely on various aspects of the entertainment industry for their livelihood. Radio Host and Events Promoter, Paul “DJ Stress” Bonar had lots to share when asked to comment on the struggles faced by players within the entertainment industry. “A lot of the artistes really struggle; they were looking forward for booking for concerts, the staff parties, the weddings and the various other activities,” Bonar lamented. He also reflected on the struggles of owners of sound systems who have also been forced out of an income due to the deadly coronavirus. “Some people took loans to buy speakers and amplifiers and all that; they depended on their business. You also have many of the DJs who work along with the sound systems; all that came to a total halt. Some of these guys may have kids, so it was a struggle,” Bonar highlighted. He said that although the news of oil and gas brought much hope to many, the pandemic, coupled with the violence and tensions emanating from Guyana’s protracted General and Regional Elections, rubbished all feelings of optimism. “Nobody wanted to do weddings and all of that. Everything became stifled. Because of our nature and lifestyle as Guyanese, people became depressed. I saw DJ and entertainers tripping on things that were mediocre,” the radio personality posited. Speaking about the frustrations faced by music producers, artistes and recording studios, Bonar said: “It has been difficult and frustrating to our creative minds. Some of these DJs, they used to be
hired by the resorts and hotels for anniversaries and birthdays and so, the musicians, studios, singers, all are out of business. It is a domino effect.”
Radio Personality and Events Promoter, Paul "DJ Stress" Bonar
The promoter also touched on the effects that the stifled entertainment industry has had on the mental health of Guyanese. “There is a lack of avenues for entertainment and recreation…people at home, recreation is stifled…kids are mostly on tablets. This will have effects on people’s mental health and eventually our health system in general,” Bonar said. COLLECTING DUST Meanwhile, Stephanie George, co-owner of Vault Night Club in Bushlot, West Coast Berbice indicated that the once thriving venue has been reduced to a dust-collecting dance floor with a few tables and chairs. George and her husband, Romell Jagroop were also forced to dismiss their staff and focus on alternative sources of income. “One of the bartenders, we ended up taking her on to work at the gas station, but we had to dismiss about seven other staff…we did give them something for the holidays, but still, we couldn’t keep them on,” George told this publication. She lamented that the COVID-19 protocols seem to be affecting many people differently, noting: “In town, there are all these businesses of a similar nature that are allowed to open and go about their business…some, under the pretext of restaurants. It is not fair to the rest of us.” She explained that had it not been for the family’s investments in other essential businesses, the losses would have been even heftier and anguish would have resonated
throughout the holiday season. The family also operates a gas station as well as a construction company. TURN TO PAGE
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Flashback: One of the many elegant and brilliant performances by dancers of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (Naya Zamana photo)
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Women not missing out
GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
–– networking, training & financing opportunities being facilitated by women’s chamber
By Vishani Ragobeer BUSINESS has been a male-dominated field, but, just as Guyana’s commercial landscape is changing due to the burgeoning oil and gas industry and the ‘spinoff’ development, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry is striving to provide The Board of Directors of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry- Guyana (WCCING) includes Kerensa Gravesande-Bart (centre), Lyndell Danzie-Black (third from right), Sherry Ann Dixon, Jennifer Cipriani, Latoya Jack, Rowena Elliot and Christine Camacho
greater opportunities for women in business. Co-Founder and President of the Chamber, Kerensa Gravesande-Bart related that this chamber was founded after a simple conversation between herself and Vice-President and Co-Founder, Lyndell Danzie-Black, on how difficult it is to do business in Guyana. Access to financing and networking opportunities were identified as major deficiencies. And so, they took it upon themselves, in 2019, to create that niche for local women in business to have access to those opportunities and more. “The aim of the chamber is to give a voice to the voiceless, to individual women entrepreneurs who are in the wilderness who are complaining like we were… (We) created a platform for them to grow, financially, technically and strategically, through partnerships and networks,” Lyndell Danzie-Black said. Though that seemed like a tall order, those were achievable objectives because the women knew how to make the right connections and leverage their experience. Danzie-Black is the Managing Director of Cerulean Inc., a corporate training and consulting company, while Gravesande-Bart is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Strategic Recruitment Solutions, a recruitment Consultancy Company. And these women reached out to other women in businessthose who were managing companies and had years of experience in business- and began to create a network. Strategic alliances were also formed with international lending partners, such as the World Bank, and with multinational companies such as ExxonMobil and Repsol. “That works to help us put together to help new women entrepreneurs and those who are already in business who would want to improve their businesses,” Danzie-Black posited. Those connections are not only for business-to-business connections, or for women in Georgetown only, though. It was also envisaged that women all across Guyana can benefit from these opportunities. A chamber of commerce is an association or network of business people designed to promote and protect the interests of its members. The women’s chamber is not only focusing on promoting and protecting the interests of business women, but also it aims to help advance efforts geared at promoting gender equality. The fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) advocated for gender equality, positing that efforts should be made to ensure that there is an end to discrimination against women and girls everywhere. This includes women in business and in the employment market. And this SDG has, in some ways, paved the way for more organisations to be more conscious of what gender programmes they offer and/or support. “What we have seen with the private sector and even with the governmental agencies is that they are happy to see that a women’s chamber is now here. We find that they have been inviting us to have discussions with them. “They are welcoming us and they want to be inclusive, and this gives us a bit more bargaining power as well,” Gravesande-Bart related. Bargaining power aside, in 2021 and beyond, the chamber will strive to implement some of the plans it has- which were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Training sessions, networking opportunities and efforts geared at facilitating investments will be prioritised. Importantly, too, the chamber will be seeking to expand its membership. “We are not just calling on established businesses. We are also calling on women who have an idea to start a business where they would like to get some guidance and they would like to talk about how they can move forward with their business,” Danzie-Black said. Interested women can contact them via: membership@ wcciguyana.com or check out their website at: https://wcciguyana.com/
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
Sueann’s Sprinkles ‘N’ Spice Cakes –– cakes that not only look good — they are delicious!
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UEANN’S Sprinkles ‘N’ Spice Cakes, owned and run by Sueann Rodrigues, has been in operation since March 2016. This small business specialises in customising exotic cakes for weddings, birthdays, and any other occasion. They also cater for an array of other baked goods such as chicken puffs, eclairs, macaroons, cheesecakes, muffins, and cookies. Recently, Sueann’s Sprinkles ‘N’ Spice Cakes launched a new product called cake bowls. These quaint bowls of treats are for those on-the-go persons who want a “sprinkle of sweet” in their day. The cake bowls are mainly available on the weekends or by large orders only. Sueann values greatly her profession as an entrepreneur, since she has a passion for learning and conquering challenges. Over the years, she has learnt to always give her full potential in her work and give her clients exactly what they want. She said: “Previously I was a seamstress and designer and to some extent still work in that field. However, I discovered my passion for baking, specifically cake decorating, when my children were younger. “I would bake them a cake for every birthday, holiday or event and
that grew until I was baking and sharing out to friends and one of those friends encouraged me to turn it into a business.” Sueann took this advice, gave it a shot and now her hobby has blossomed into a thriving catering business. Baking and decorating cakes gave Sueann the opportunity to do something she is passionate about while making others happy. Sueann’s greatest influence is her family. They have encouraged her as well as offered their constructive criticism and opinions when needed to help improve her products and overall business. The entrepreneur noted that she feels a great sense of accomplishment when she gets good reviews from her customers. It is always positive feedback and there are always repeating customers, who say a lot about her products and service. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a negative impact on businesses worldwide. When COVID-19 first hit Guyana, business for Sueann’s Sprinkles ‘N’ Spice Cakes had slowed up because of the uncertainty. Customers were postponing or cancelling their orders, but it is a relief
Sueann Rodrigues
to know that the situation has since changed, and business is “back to normal” and maybe even better. For Sueann, the most effective marketing platforms for her business have been social media and word of mouth which have helped her reach customers through the lockdowns. The best advice she has received in business that she wishes to pass on to readers are to never doubt yourself and trust that you have the knowledge and the skills to execute every project to the best of your abilities. Next year, the number one business goal is to expand Sueann’s Sprinkles ‘N’ Spice Cakes and
One of Sueann’s intricate yet tantalising creations
hopefully convert it into a dainty walk-in cake shop. Sueann has such an immense passion for her business that apart from earning an income, she also does it for fun and relaxation. However, she said that if she was not baking cakes, she would be learning about cakes or watching movies with her family. Contact Sueann’s Sprinkles ‘N’ Spice Cakes for more information about the extensive selection of cakes and other baked goods offerings via mobile number, 592-626-0757 or send a message to the Facebook page at Sueann’s Sprinkles ‘N’ Spice Cakes or Instagram page at sprinklesnspicecake.
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US$35M Sheraton ... Although the plan is unfolding now, the idea to establish such a facility has been long in the making. Head of the Beepats Distribution Company, Dennis Beepat, had a vision over 30 years ago when he purchased a huge tract of land in the proximity of the CJIA, that either his children or grandchildren would be the beneficiaries of a large scale project in the future. “Today, that future has arrived with the steady growth of Guyana’s new oil industry, and the promising expansion of the tourism industry, which is projected as one of the many ripple effects,” the investors said. This investment will form part of the US$1 billion (G$215B) which will soon be injected into Guyana’s economy in the form of world-class hotels, which will be constructed across the country to cater for the anticipated increase in visitors, who are being attracted by the nation’s burgeoning oil and gas sector and its spill-off benefits. A business-friendly climate supplemented by the anticipated economic ascension is being credited for the attraction of major players in the hotel industry, such as Sheraton, The Element, Delta Marriott, Best Western Hotels and Resorts, the H-Tower Luxury Hotel, the Marriott Courtyard, the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, the Radisson Hotels, and the Hilton Hotels and Resorts, among others. According to a study by Oxford Economics, hotel operations and guest spending support eight million jobs across the US alone. The same study found that a typical hotel with 100 occupied rooms per night supports 230 local jobs every year. And the nation’s hotel and lodging industry bring other important benefits to local communities. These businesses are a cornerstone for local economic activity, providing increased tax revenue, capital investment, tourism-related development and promotion, civic leadership, charitable contributions and sponsorship.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
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Entertainment switches ... SWITCHING RHYTHM Kerwin Bollers of Hits and Jams Entertainment also shared similar sentiments, stressing the importance of business diversification and the entertainment industry’s ability to adapt and examine alternatives. “It has been a very difficult period,” Bollers asserted, adding that his company has been battling the ‘waves,’ and was even forced to lay off a number of its employees due to the constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bollers is hopeful that 2021 would bring good news, and that the advent of a COVID-19 vaccine would result in containment of the virus, which would gradually bring the world back to some level of normalcy. But even with hope, Bollers and his team are still examining alternative ways of showcasing talents and entertaining the people of Guyana. “What we would have noticed, especially in the US, is that promoters are looking at new options in how to implement systems so that people can go back out to events… we want to keep monitoring what is happening in the international market to see how practical some of those methods would work in Guyana,” Bollers said. As it is, many entities, including Government Ministries have been investing in hosting virtual activities, including concerts and exhibitions. “I believe that virtual activities will continue throughout 2021, because even with the vaccine and so, many people are very skeptical as to whether or not they will take the vaccine,” Bollers noted. GOING VIRTUAL IS NOT SUSTAINABLE The promoter noted that even though many of the virtual activi-
Managing Partner of Hits and Jams Entertainment, Kerwin Bollers (right) with singing sensation, Sean Paul, moments before what was dubbed an exciting concert
ties have been well-received, they are not feasible in the long run. “We still have not found a way how we could monetize that process; even in the first world,” Bollers said. He believes that even if there was a way for the audience to be asked to pay to view an activity, it would not be a fair-minded request. “A lot of people are out of jobs, money is not flowing the way it used to…it is really difficult to ask persons to subscribe to payments, knowing what a lot of people are faced with during this pandemic,” Bollers told Chronicle Business. He said that even though it may seem simple, virtual activities are
quite expensive, and, in some cases, cost even more than the hosting of a physical activity. ‘KEEP AT IT’ President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Persaud also reflected on some of the struggles her organisation has faced during the last ten months. “Most of our activities are very family oriented; people have not been able to come out as a family, most people are at home; people are also trying their best to stay safe, so that kind of social interaction has been missing,” Dr. Persaud noted. She noted that while virtual activities are good alternatives, they
still cannot fill the void of attending and participating physically in an activity. “We did do a virtual motorcade and it was well-received, but nothing can replace an actual motorcade with thousands of people…it’s a hallmark of Diwali in Guyana,” Dr. Persaud said. She explained that artistes attached to the Dharmic Sabha have also had a difficult time, but continue to utilise technology as a mechanism to continue doing what they love. “But, I do believe that they (performers) like to feed off of the synergy of the natural live audiences. While many of them continue to perform and do live collaborations and that kind of thing, nothing can compare to being in a live venue,” Dr. Persaud asserted. She told the Chronicle Business that even with COVID-19 the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has not been stagnant in its operations. “We have held online classes, we’ve been doing continuous training in all disciplines, but in terms of performances, we are still examining that,” Dr. Persaud said. She also lamented the need for more persons to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines, so that Guyana can recover faster and move closer to normalcy. In the meantime, she is also encouraging performers to keep the faith and continue training and utilising technology as a means of promoting their talents. “It is still a way of getting exposure and a way of networking…and also a good way of having people beyond the borders of the country see what they can do,” Dr. Persaud advised.
GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
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Understanding Energy
Guyanese businesses stepping up to service emerging O&G industry GUYANA is on course to becoming one of the top oil producers in the Latin America and Caribbean region, going from no known resources just five years ago, to having more than nine billion barrels of oil equivalent. The new oil producing nation will see billions of U.S. dollars flowing to the state over the lifetime of its offshore resources. And, several local businesses have started taking steps to ensure that they are best positioned to benefit from growing opportunities in the new oil and gas economy. Andrew Mendes is the Chief Executive Officer of Panthera Solutions, a joint venture that was established in 2018. The partnership is a 51 per cent Guyanese-owned venture between Farfan and Mendes and Crosbie Group out of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. “Farfan was typically in the forestry, mining, [and] agricultural sector…being a main supplier to those sectors. And, with the advent of the oil and gas industry in Guyana, while we were providing some services initially to that industry, we realised that we would need a lot of help in building the capacity to really effectively service the oil and gas market,” Mendes said. He noted too that the company was therefore challenged to really improve all its processes and practices to become a consistent and reliable supplier of quality products and services for the industry. The establishment as such actively engaged in training their technicians in the services they would be offering to the industry, including scaffolding, industrial cleaning, and sandblasting. Panthera, he said, was one of the first Guyanese companies on board the Liza Destiny FPSO when it arrived last year and has since put in over one thousand hours of work on the oil producing vessel. “We have seen the spinoff benefits into the rest of our business from meeting the requirements of the oil and gas sector,” he said, adding: “When I started to look at the oil and gas sector in 2016, 2017…I realised that we would really have to raise our game to a much higher level.” After months of practical implementation, and hundreds of hours of effort, Mine Services Ltd and their partners were able to obtain ISO 9001 certification, which Mendes said would not have been possible without the support of the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD). The Centre was established by ExxonMobil back in 2017 to help Guyanese businesses build capacity and improve their competitiveness in the oil and gas industry. Similar sentiments were echoed by Jennifer Falconer, one of the proprietors of
Falcon Logistics. She noted that her company, in its initial days of operations, provided services such as vessel support, brokerage, and immigration services to the mining industry. “Falcon believes strongly in local content and we check every box for ‘local company’,” she said, noting: “Flacon has grown from strength to strength and [we] have expanded our services and our facilities.” Unlike Panthera, Falcon no longer work with other industries due to the large influx of work from the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, for Sudarshan Sukha, the emergence of oil and gas in Guyana provided the opportunity to establish a new business. Arrow Oilfield Services Inc. is 100 per cent locally owned and operated by Sukha and his partner. He reflected on where they began, sharing: “We started off in 2017, basically myself and our other Director Kavir…. two guys on a laptop getting into the oil and gas [industry]. We started observing the industry since 2015, plotting strategically, looking for what is needed and how we have to adapt to enter such an industry.” He continued: “I am a Structural Engineer, Kavir is a Civil Engineer, and, with that base, we entered the oil and gas industry very slowly through the Center for Local Business Development which was very instrumental in our growth and development.” Arrow Oilfield began by offering procurement services in 2017 then moved onto facilities management the following year. He was proud to share how they developed relationships with ExxonMobil’s prime contractors and later began offering construction services. “Through this process, we have basically grown from nothing into where we currently are. All through, opportunities offered to us through the Center for Local Business Development, I cannot say enough how pivotal they were in our development,” he emphasised, adding that capacity building is paramount to any operation. “In order to keep up with the demands of the oil and gas industry, we as local companies have to evolve out of our old ways and into the pace of the new sector,” he said. He noted, too, that they were able to do so by accessing the many seminars and oil and gas courses that were made available by CLBD. The Guyanese business operators were also part of a panel discussion at the Caribbean Virtual Oil and Gas Summit held in September. (OilNOW)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020