“Everything in Guyana closes early,” says Giftland President Roy Beepat. And, on holidays, he asks, “How many times can you go to the creek?”
Beepat is counting on the frustration at the dearth of options for leisure and entertainment activities locally to drive traffic to the Giftland Mall at Turkeyen, which is set to open on Independence Day, May 26.
“This is a concept mall,” Beepat told reporters yesterday, while introducing the entertainment features. “Each vendor contracted or concession secured is piece of a puzzle. The intent is to create a first-class experience. Therefore, you have to be on top of your game to be considered for space. We are looking for licensed, serious, professional experienced people.”
The entertainment features to be offered include an 8,000-sq ft playground with a variety of attractions, a kids restaurant, a modern video game arcade for teens, a food court with seating for 500 and 16 different food outlets as well as a 560 ft “strip of four fine dining restaurants, the American Sports Bar, the Brazilian Grill and Bar and a British Pub.”
The strip is being advertised as similar but superior to St Lawrence Gap/Oistins in Barbados or Rodney Bay in St Lucia. Its attractions are also expected to be augmented by displays of Guyanese culture, including live entertainment featuring artists from a variety of fields, such as comedians, visual artists, as well as horticulture and craft shows. Giftland also hopes to launch a talent show which would run from next January to December.
One of the most anticipated features of the new mall is the Caribbean Cinemas investment. Caribbean Cinemas, which has approximately 453 screens across the Caribbean, has committed to a US$5 million investment of eight 3D screens at the mall.
The numerous facilities being advertised but which are yet to be completed suggest that it would be difficult for the mall to be completed by the planned opening date. Beepat acknowledged that it will be a tight finish but he expects that the facility will be ready “if not at 100% then close.” They are working night and day towards this goal. Indeed, there was evidence of furious efforts yesterday to meet the deadline.
Emphasising that Giftland is a Guyanese company first and foremost, Beepat also reminded that the mall will be employing approximately 2,000 Guyanese. He further noted that Giftland will host a career fair this weekend, where options for employment will be available for Guyanese of all education levels. Counselling that “sometimes you do what you have to do till you can do better,” he said if young Guyanese can “swallow [their] pride a little bit [they] can get a job.”
