Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 18, 2009 News
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Banks DIH, Clifford Reis, yesterday told the 53rd shareholders meeting that despite a minimal depreciation in the value of the Guyana dollar, the company has recorded the largest profit margin in the history of the company, an after tax profit of $1.42B.
He noted that this was the first time in the history of the company that the company crossed the billion-dollar mark.
Reis outlined to the shareholders some of the successes and achievements of the company over the past year. He announced that the company will be digging a new well this year to complement the one in existence.
He added also that the company will be relocating the Arawak Steak House from its present location to Sheriff Street, where the ambience will be more conducive for families to relax.
According to Reis, there will also be the establishment of the OMG sports bar.
The meaning of the acronym OMG will be revealed after a promotion where patrons will be given the opportunity to try to guess its meaning with the winner receiving a prize.
He also lamented the current world economic crisis, adding that the company will be implementing several strategies aimed at cushioning the company against the effects of the crisis.
“Even though future global uncertainties in the social, economic and other conditions exist, we remain committed to be optimistic, proactive, and to pursue a vigorous approach towards maintaining and improving the performance of the business for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
He added also that ever since the implementation of the Value Added Tax in 2007, it has had a harsh impact on the company, especially the restaurants.
This, he posited, was compounded by the fact that there were many unregistered places where persons could purchase with the prices exclusive of VAT and the company had to compete with these businesses.
The company chairman also lamented the heavy presence of un-customed liquor in the country that competes with Banks products. He proposed that the government should pass legislation making it mandatory for the names and addresses of importers to be placed on the label of the products.
This, he insisted, would create an environment that would make the smuggling of liquor a difficult trade, whilst earning more revenue for the government.
Whilst reflecting on the successful launch of Banks Beer and Shandy in the US market, he noted that plans are afoot to have the products introduced to the Canadian market by mid-year.
He added, also, that there are plans to have Citizens Bank, which is a 51 per cent owned subsidiary of Banks DIH, acquire its own property rather than to continue to rent.
Prior to the adoption of the various reports, there was a lamentation among stakeholders about the incessantly high taxes paid to the Government.
This was in light of the investment made by shareholders as against a non investment by the Government.
According to the report, taxes paid to the government increased to in excess of $5B as against $4.7B that was paid in 2007.
Citizens Bank recorded a 66.2 per cent increase over 2007, raking in excess of $400M.
In the report United Vision for the company, it was pointed out that the past eight years have ushered in an era of radical, sweeping change across the globe in ways that have never before been experienced or thought possible.
“Advances in science and technology, corporate mergers and takeovers, the emergence of global trading blocs, the phenomenal growth of emerging markets like Brazil, India and China, and even the recent U.S. Presidential elections have transformed the world into a stage of endless possibilities for great success, irrespective of the attendant challenges and uncertainties.”
The United Vision pointed out that the company’s commitment to the concept of quality in all that it achieves is reflected in the progress made in acquiring HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) Certification and the steps already taken towards ISO recognition.
“Perhaps the least recognisable benefit accrued to our company and by far the most rewarding is the strength of the networking we have been able to establish over the years…This enables us to accomplish so much when circumstances dictate otherwise.”
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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