Guyanese land top entrepreneur awards
GUYANESE businessmen Jad Rahaman of `Whitewater Adventure Tours', and Deonarine Singh of Didco Trading/Friendship Hotel and Restaurant, copped awards at this year's `Entrepreneur of the Year' ceremony in Trinidad and Tobago. Rahaman won in the Tourism/Hospitality category and Singh in the Food Processing and Distribution division. The two were among 15 finalists from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada, selected by Ernst and Young, the internationally known accounting firm and Trinidad-based Republic Bank Limited, sponsors of the event. "I hope my success will inspire and motivate existing and potential investors, and create an awareness of the potential eco-tourism has to contribute towards the (expansion) of the economy of Guyana," an elated Rahaman told the Chronicle yesterday. The pioneer of jet boating in the local tourism sector felt he had "a good chance" to sneak away with the tourism/hospitality prize, because his Baracara Island resort epitomised the true spirit of the entrepreneurial enterprise, which is "building from scratch". He was overwhelmed when declared winner for his category in which Andre' Cheman, proprietor of Coyaba Beach Resort (Grenada) was the other finalist, at the Saturday night ceremony. In the manufacturing division, Kama Maharaj of Sasha Cosmetics Limited (Trinidad), Joel H. Webbe of W & W Electronics Limited (Grenada) and Hemraj Kissoon of Kissoon Group of Companies (Guyana) were the finalists. Guyanese companies were the three finalists in the Food Processing and Distribution category. Singh beat off Naeem Nasir of Nasir and Nasir (Bakewell) (Guyana) and Vickram Oditt of Vinelli Industries Limited. Guyanese construction expert Courtney Benn, of Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited, was a finalist in the Rental And Services group which included Helen Bhagwansingh of Bhagwansingh's Hardware (Trinidad), and Anselm M. G. LaTouche - Creative Designs and Building Construction Company Limited (Grenada).
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