Outstanding entrepreneur, Dave Narine, is a ‘Special Person’

Feb 17, 2019 Special Person

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 “When I started Dave West Indian Imports, it was my intention to push Guyanese products into the U.S. and world arena because of the good stuff we have. Our products are sought after across America and we are bridging the gap.”

 

By Sharmain Grainger

While there are some who are of the firm belief that immigrants have no place in the United States, there are others who have long recognized that without these individuals a great country, even the U.S., may not have the wherewithal to be such.
The State of Maryland certainly is aware of this, and when it recently took into consideration the impact that businesses such as ‘The Caribbean Market’ are having on the economy, there was need for some serious commendation.

The Caribbean Market can be described as a Caribbean supermarket offering customers West Indian food products of all types. It is owned by Guyanese-born, Dave Narine, who migrated to the ‘land of opportunity’ back in 1986.
Indeed Dave had to make many sacrifices and work especially hard to open not just the Maryland store, but another in the New York State area. Because of his sizeable staff population and the quantity of business he does, Dave has helped create an especially outstanding financial climate which the Maryland economy has been able to benefit considerably from.
In fact, according to Comptroller Peter Franchot of Maryland State, “I would like to think that businesses like this [The Caribbean Market] are the heart and soul of Maryland’s economy. We are a rich state; many people believe we are the richest state in the U.S., [but] without businesses like this, we will be nowhere.”
Comptroller Franchot made this declaration as he read a proclamation on January 31 last, when he visited The Caribbean Market, situated at 7505 New Hampshire Avenue, with the single intention of presenting Dave with a Certificate of Recognition for his business’ contribution to the Maryland economy.
The Cornerstone Award for Local Business Excellence celebrates businesses that strengthen Maryland’s economy, generate jobs and tax revenue, develop new ideas that more effectively deliver services and products within the marketplace and are a leader in their local community.
The award is one that is given to small and medium-size businesses for their unique efforts of helping to grow the economy.
“I feel humble, honoured and proud to receive such a recognition from the Comptroller of Maryland,” said Dave as he shared plans to expand. “We have outgrown our 10, 000 square feet space and we hope to expand and carry more products and continue serving the people.”

Essentially, what Dave has been able to do is showcase a talent that most Guyanese possess – being able to succeed in just about any corner of the world we find ourselves. This would explain why he was also the recipient of a similar award from New York State not so long ago too.
In fact, it is for his very resilience to, not only grow, but cause a business, which promotes Guyana in a big way, to succeed in a diverse nation such as the US, we at Kaieteur News today afford Dave the title of our ‘Special Person’.

EARLY DAYS
Born and raised in Corentyne, Berbice, Dave attended the Number 59 Primary School after which he moved on to the senior classes offered at the Massiah School, which was situated in Number 71 Village.
Maybe because he was the son of teachers, from early on Dave could have easily been dubbed an outstanding performer. When he graduated, at the age of 15, with his secondary education from Tagore Memorial Secondary School at Number 63 Village, Dave had no planned career path. He, moreover, went on to dabble a bit in mechanical engineering. But his first exposure to the world of work was when he accepted a job as an Accounts Clerk for the Skeldon Sugar Factory. It took but a few months for Dave to realise that this was not his ultimate forte.
He later responded to an advertised vacancy for a Customs Officer. Indeed accepting such a job meant that Dave would not only have to travel to Georgetown, but eve

n find a place to lodge. Although he was satisfied with his employment at Customs, Dave knew that he wanted more out of life. Among his desires was to travel to the US to find out whether indeed it was the ‘land of opportunity’.

TRUE CALLING
He left Guyana’s shores on May 4, 1986. As he tried to find a suitable career path in his adopted land, Dave was able to land a job in the Accounts Department of a computer laser company called Magna Graphics Inc. What he recalls most of being employed there, however, was that he was strategically placed to help assist a number of Guyanese who had also migrated to the U.S.

It wasn’t long after that he would realize his true calling. He first visualized Dave West Indian Imports, and at the time was just overflowing with patriotic zest, vigour and vitality. Although pleased that he was able to comfortably make another land his new home, Dave also wanted to take a little bit of Guyana with him. Moreover, for nearly three decades, Dave has been providing foods such as chowmein, curry powder, spices and a great deal more to supermarkets, restaurants and individuals across the United States.
“People were responding very well to the products. I lived in New York and we made inroads into the tri-state, and then sometime later Connecticut. Guyanese and other West Indians from other states started to contact us in New York because they wanted to taste the products from home that they had grown up with,” Dave shared during an interview.
He recalled that as he became more established, The Caribbean Market was first set up in New York and then Maryland. His now U.S. multimillion-dollar operation is not m

erely confined to the two states, as he has been able to infiltrate the Florida and New Jersey markets too.
“When I started Dave West Indian Imports, it was my intention to push Guyanese products into the U.S. and world arena because of the good stuff we have. Our products are sought after across America and we are bridging the gap,” Dave said of his business operation.
The Caribbean Market, which operates under the trade name Dave West Indian Imports Inc., has been in existence since 2005. It is said to be the largest importer of West Indian delicacies from Guyana and one of the largest importers from the rest of the Caribbean into the U.S. Market.
With eyes trained on evolving from just catering to the West Indian Market, Dave said, “We have sub-distributors that we sell to, most of them are able to go into the heart of the American market like the Walmarts. We are making a lot of headway in the larger supermarkets and we are hoping that, in the next five to 10 years, we are a household name across America.”

Ahead of commending Dave for his business operation in Maryland, Comptroller Franchot said of the Caribbean Market that it was being recognized “for operating a specialty store successfully since 2005 by offering hard-to-find West Indian delicacies to a culturally diverse population…”

IDENTITY
While being a successful businessman has helped create a befitting identity for Dave, this father of two – Dylan and David – and husband to Debbie, certainly appreciates the notion that ‘all work and no play makes jack a dull boy’. As such, many years ago, Dave developed a passion for cricket. Because of his passion for the game, he has over the years sponsored many teams and tournaments and given support to the Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira Cricket Foundation.
In fact, for the past few years, he has been the title-sponsor for the Guyana Cricket Board’s Under-15 competition. Not so long ago, he was honoured by the cricket board for his contribution to cricket in Guyana.
Helping to make him the person he is today, is being able to reach out to those who are vulnerable and less fortunate. As such, Dave has over the years been hosting programmes to feed those housed at orphanages and many others across the Corentyne. He has been known to lend support to the ‘Bless the Children Home’ on the East Coast of Demerara, and during the Christmas season, he is known to share food hampers to the elderly and the less fortunate.

We are very supportive of religious events [too] because they bring people together. Dave West Indian is known for its charitable deeds and we will continue to support the community, because the people have given us so much over the years,” Dave shared.
Even as he embraces the importance of giving back to the land of his birth, Dave has also recognized the need for giving back to his adopted home too. Moreover, he has been involved in politics and has supported well, many candidates who have contested city council seats and vied for positions, including mayor, governor and senator.
In fact, his backing is often sought after, since many have opted to classify Dave as an unblemished entrepreneur. He lives by the motto, “honesty is the best policy” and is always eager to say: “If you are going to do an honest business, you are going to survive. I keep telling people, “do an honest business and you will survive”. Pay your taxes and be nice to people…do not overprice your products and you will last. I keep telling everyone in Guyana and in the U.S. to do the right business, the right way.”

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