Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 12, 2008 News
Regent Multiplex, a multi-million-dollar shopping mall, opened at the heart of the city’s shopping district yesterday, helping to transform the landscape of Regent Street, where thousands of shoppers throng every day.
The opening of the mall is credit to the entrepreneurship of West Demerara businessman Ganesh Ramlall, whom Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad said has emerged from the days of “suitcase traders.”
The mall was opened by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who is performing the duties of Head of State in President Jagdeo’s absence, and according to the owner, all 41 of the store places have been taken.
Ramall’s daughter, Ramona – one of the country’s top ten performers at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment — said her father’s trading business began with a visit to Berbice, and soon he started bringing in goods from Venezuela, Panama and the United States, setting up a stall in the Stabroek Market during that time.
Ramlall himself did not speak at the opening ceremony, as he is never one to want to hug the limelight, his longtime friend, Glenn Lall, told the audience.
Lall, publisher of Kaieteur News, said that speculation was rife that he was the developer behind the imposing three-storey structure which is located at Regent and Wellington Streets.
However, he denied this was so, and said the building solely belongs to the Ramall family.
Lall acknowledged that the close involvement of his wife, Bhena, who owns the popular shoe store bearing her name at the eastern end of the same block with Regent Multiplex, might have fuelled that speculation.
Bhena, he said, was responsible for the architectural design of the building and the way it was decorated.
However, while he described the building as a work of art, with ornamental properties, he said it was, nevertheless, functional.
Lall said Ramall has always been willing to come forward to contribute to various funds he has set up to help victims of disaster and man-made terror, and wasn’t one who had to be asked.
Minister Prashad said the setting up of the mall represented the confidence Guyanese have in the economy.
He pointed out that it has been the vision of President Bharrat Jagdeo for private investment to take the lead in the development of Guyana.
Prashad said the spirit of entrepreneurship demonstrated by Ramlall is what the country needs, and it sets a good example at a time when the world is facing financial woes.
Prime Minister Hinds said the investment in the mall suggests that Guyana is on the road to development, and he commended the entrepreneur for forging ahead despite the fact that people often complain of what Guyana “does not have.”
The PM said the mall adds to similar such structures in other parts of the country, and represents the changing way of presenting products for sale.
Opposition Leader Robert Corbin said the opening of the mall signals the fact that there are opportunities in Guyana for persons to develop their talent and abilities. He said he hoped others would use the opportunity to be inspired by what Ramlall has managed to achieve.
Leading entrepreneur Dr Yesu Persaud said that, while there are many challenges in Guyana, there are opportunities, and those opportunities need to be grasped.
He said the country faces a “tremendous job ahead” in the developmental process, but he said development can come if all work together. Regent Multiplex opens its doors to the public today.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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