Queens Atlantic Invest-ment Inc. (QAII) was on Wednesday declared winner of the Georgetown Chamber’s Business of the Year Award (large) for its investment in the Caribbean Premier League T20 cricket tournament among other initiatives.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) honoured a number of businesses and agencies for outstanding work at its 2013 awards and gala dinner held at the Pegasus Hotel.
QAII was cited for the acquisition of the franchise for the Guyana Amazon Warriors Team, the successful hosting of the inaugural CPL T20 tournament, sponsorship of the league under the name Limacol CPL and the introduction of Limacol as a global brand.
Clinton Urling, president of the GCCI said the chamber has never been stronger or more robust as it heads into its 125th year of existence, in his address at the gathering which included distinguished guests such as Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, MPs, Cabinet members and members of the diplomatic corps and private sector organisations.
“Today [the chamber] is a highly recognisable, respected and vocal non-partisan champion of the interest of Guyana’s private sector and our nation as a whole,” he said. Urling noted that the chamber is featured frequently in the press both in its weekly ‘Chamber’s Business Review’ programme where it broadcasts training programmes and interviews with professionals on topical issues or globally, via its Business Guyana Investment magazine, The Competitiveness Manifesto, website and social media.
The chamber presented its Media Award 2013 to Enrico Woolford of Capitol News for raising its profile via its outstanding coverage and for its “fair, objective, balanced and interesting” news programme. US Ambassador Brent Hardt presented the award to Woolford.
The Long Service Award 2013 was presented to The Demerara Tobacco Company Limited for its “long and outstanding membership, dedication and commitment to the Chamber since 1944.” The award was presented to the company by the most recent member to join the chamber, Jailall Ragnauth, general manager of Caribbean International Distributors Inc.
The Chamber Award 2013 was presented to Komal Ramnauth, CEO of Kojac Marketing Agency which has been a member of the chamber since 1993. Ramnauth served as president of the chamber from 2010-2012. Over the years, Ramnauth has demonstrated and continued active interest in the well-being of the chamber and has made significant contributions to its overall success, namely the renovation drive, provided financial support for the chamber’s five-year strategic plan and actively promoted the chamber through personal marketing strategies. He also recruited a number of the chamber’s new members. Urling handed over the award to Ramnauth.
Marie June Mendes was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2013. EU Ambassador Robert Kopecky presented the award to Mendes for her contributions to the development of the local business environment. Matriarch of the Farfan and Mendes Group of Companies, Mendes had been at the helm of the group until her retirement in 2006. She continues to serve as Chairman of the Board, providing guidance and advice to the management team.
Mendes has also been active in community service. An advocate of non-profit initiatives, Mendes has also served on several boards and charities and continues to be a benefactor to those in need.
Courts furniture store won the Corporate Citizenship Award 2013 (large category) and John Lewis Styles won in the small category for their “ethical leadership, good corporate governance and community investment.”
The chamber recognises Court’s active involvement in community service programmes aimed at alleviating critical social problems. Throughout 2013, the company has supported sports (football, tennis and golf tournaments and the Education Ministry’s nationals); culture and arts (Emancipation and Diwali celebrations in-store0; health (donations were made to the Doobay Renal Centre and the Spelling Bee competition for the Deaf Association of Guyana) and education (Sophia’s Promise in collaboration with the Rotary Group to the tune of $8M).
Over the years John Lewis Styles has made donations to a number of NGOs, charities and sporting activities. In addition, since it moved to its new South Cummingsburg location in 2011, the company has installed 15 street lights, installed and maintained over a dozen garbage bins and pays for weekly garbage collection and twice monthly landscaping.
Impressions which is the first company to introduce digital fabric printing locally, won the Award for Innovation 2013. The award is given in recognition of recorded breakthrough achievements in technology, processes, marketing campaigns and development that have impacted positively on the quality of products, services, customer satisfaction, process efficiencies, employee satisfaction and company/product image.
Other recipients of awards are Terry Singh of Japarts, Footsteps Mega Store, Princess Hotel and Casino Fun City Family Entertainment Centre, the Ministry of Home Affairs and GCCI executive director Bonita Marissa Lowden.
The other nominees in the category of business of the year were Japarts, Pomeroon Oil Milling and MACORP.
