The $45M centre, which is strategically located in a busy shopping zone not far from the Bourda Municipal Market, will be officially opened to consumers today. The other branches are at Water Street, and Alexander Street Kitty.

The newest Bounty branch is operating from the building, which formerly housed Caribbean Chemicals. It has been renovated and the necessary facilities installed.

Chairman of the John Fernandes Group of Companies, Mr. Chris Fernandes, said the new Meat Centre aims at providing customers with an attractive air-conditioned shopping environment, complete with private and secure parking accommodation.

He said the Centre is not the last of its kind to be opened by the group, and that there are plans to extend the quality service of its Meat Centres to communities in other parts of the country.

The opening of the facility has created 25 new jobs and the staff is well trained to extend courteous, efficient and customer-friendly service, Fernandes pointed out.

“Given the right opportunities and circumstances, the Fernandes Group of Companies is prepared to work with other companies and individuals who share our business ideals to set up similar Centres in a quest to create much-needed employment throughout Guyana, while taking quality chicken to outlying communities,” Fernandes said.

However, he noted that the success of businesses in Guyana is dependent on considerations, which include a stable political environment.

Mr. Fernandes said the group is committed to working for the success and development of the country, but he noted that, “with political stability and the willingness to work together by all stakeholders, we firmly believe that Guyana’s potential can be achieved. We can become the envy of the Caribbean.”

Fernandes said the investment was decided upon during the last four months, and at a time when a commitment was made by President Bharrat Jagdeo and the main Opposition Party, People’s National Congress/Reform Leader Mr. Desmond Hoyte to engage in what seemed to be constructive dialogue.

However, he noted that the dialogue process has broken down and a large section of the population is living in fear and anxiety. He warned that without some urgent action, “We seem to be going down the road of self- destruction”.

Fernandes charged that the PPP/C being the duly elected government and endowed with the responsibility, it must show leadership in finding solutions to the country’s current problems.

He said: “Government must find ways to work with the stakeholders to alleviate the present turmoil, to attract investment, create jobs, and work together for the advancement of our country so that all Guyanese may benefit.

“The PNC was in power for 28 years and very little progress was achieved. The PPP has now been in power for nearly a decade, and again very little progress has been accomplished. I’m no politician, but from my perspective the solution is clear. Neither party can move Guyana forward without the help and support of the other.”

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Mr. Manzoor Nadir in his remarks at the opening ceremony commended the group for their bold initiatives and for making the right management decisions in the current business environment.

He assured the John Fernandes Group of Companies that Government would continue to support private sector initiatives to ensure that sector remains the engine of growth in Guyana.

“We need to stand firm with those businesses that are standing firm with Guyana, who are taking the brave and bold initiatives. I want to assure the businesses that despite our current stagnation, that it is times like these that there are tremendous profits to be made,” Nadir stated.

“I don’t want to beat around and say that all things are bright and beautiful. The business climate is currently showing stagnation,” the Minister said. He pointed out that records for the past five years indicate that in 1997 pure consumer goods came into the country at a value of US$115M.

That increased in 1998 to US$117M and receded in 1999 to US$113M, in 2000 to US$110M, and in 2001 rebounded to US$116M close to the 1998 level.

Those figures indicate that the market has not grown for the past five years, Nadir said.

However, the Minister said, there is one indicator that things are picking up and that is the investment in intermediate goods. This, he explained, is investment in the machinery to manufacture the goods that the consumer wants. A steady increase is shown in that particular area of business, he noted.