Dear Editor,
We are grateful for the opportunity to respond to a malicious missive occupying space in the Nation’s Newspapers the Guyana Chronicle dated March 10, 2021. We will address paragraph by paragraph of the said missive so that a holistic view can be given.
PARA 1. The residents of Melanie continue to lead quiet lives. Every year, for as long as we can remember, Melanie has been a trove of activity. Do you remember the days of self-help, entrepreneurship and commerce? Melanie once had a bank. Due to a number of factors residents of Melanie over the decades have had to fend for themselves. The plaza which was the commercial hub of the East Coast is now a shell. The Melanie market which was supposed to provide economic opportunities for residents was lifeless. Now that has changed with the emergence of the “Melanie Bar”. This “bar” applied for and received the blessings of the Vigalstra Coop Society to commence operations in September, 2020. The exponential growth we have experienced is as a direct result of visionary village elders believing and trusting young people and their ideas and believe in empowering them financially. It would be remiss of me to not publicly thank them for their support. Their vision is not to go back to the glory days of the past but to forge a new economic future with the young people leading the way. Today the market is a buzz and there are plans for a modern business complex where the dilapidated plaza now sits. We salute these village elders.
Not to digress afar from the malicious missive of March 10th, 2021 the writer’s claims of quietude is easily shuttered by stating the facts: prior to the advent of the “Melanie Bar” residents of Melanie have hosted annual All Black Events, annual Village Days, Bar-B-Que daily and on the weekends, all of which involved the playing of loud music. These activities occurred at Linden Drive, Melanie Damishana or Melanie Market as it is fondly known. Anyone who is from Melanie will admit this and anyone who is honest will do so as well. The writer, by asserting otherwise, makes a rancid departure from fact to fiction, from meaningful engagement to maliciousness. As a matter of fact, every Friday for the months of May to August in 2020, there was a street jam in Melanie. Music was provided by a popular sound system. If these have had no impact on the quietude over the years then how then can we take the writer seriously? Editor, we do not operate a liquor bar. I am one of the directors of Cigars and Cognac Inc. It is by its proper description, an Eco Bar and Lounge. Why the name Eco Bar and Lounge? It is an open air venue, utilizing natural ventilation and with its dressed wooded finish gives the feel of oneness with nature. What has changed since Floyd Arthur, Krishana Ross and myself began operating the lounge is to provide employment to fifteen (15) young people daily, jumpstart the local economy, created spin off businesses, provided a first class entertainment atmosphere that is the best in the country, provided an ambience that is incomparable with its rustic feel and soft lights, increased the revenues of the lumber yards, hardware stores, ice suppliers, beverage companies, taxi services and the list goes on. Everyone that plies a trade in Melanie can attest to the fact that they are doing 100% better today than when there was no Cigars and Cognac Inc. Ms. Sharon who started with just some provision now has a full blown stall that can rival any in Bourda or Stabroek. Robbie who was on the verge of closing down now has extended and IBet has rented his establishment. Chicken King who sold probably fifteen boxes of bar-b-que daily now does approximately fifty daily and a few hundred on weekends. Kaysan who previously sold a few burgers and fish now thrives more than ever before. Persons from all over Guyana are coming to Melanie because of Cigars and Cognac Inc. Interest is now piqued in doing business from Melanie as I am aware that a hardware store and a wholesale depot wants to set up base in Melanie because they see what we have done. Most persons expected us to fail because of the distance from Georgetown and the fact that we are at the back of the market instead of the front, but we have proven the naysayers wrong. I daresay, anyone who is pro-business and a true resident of Melanie, will have a tremendous appreciation for what we have done thus far.
PARA 2. Cigars and Cognac Inc. is located in an area that was once a dump, an area that was once overrun by bushes and garbage, in an area no one would have thought to put an Eco Bar and Lounge. What is quite strange is that we have had discussions with numerous residents of Melanie and I am 100% sure that if they have a problem with us they will tell us because that’s how we Melanie people are. We have even gone around the community and enquired and spoke to Mrs. K, whose home can be accessed through our business place, and who indicated that sometimes the music is a bit too loud, she recommended that after a certain time turn down a little. In December, 2020 just recently she commended us for keeping the decibel level at a minimum. Other elderly residents in Mrs. K’s street have said that they enjoy the music we play and it does not affect them. The claim by this resident that the music is played at unbearable volumes and can be heard from long distances is an outright lie. Mrs. Walcott’s home is in the said Market Street – ask her if the music emanating from Cigars and Cognac is a nuisance. Mr. Bacchus is a pensioner who lives in 3rd street (the Market Street is the fourth) – enquire from him and his family if the music from Cigars and Cognac is a nuisance. From Sunday to Friday we utilize one speaker, yes…one 12 inch EV portable speaker. On Fridays and Saturdays which are our popular days there are seven of these speakers and two subwoofers. At no time is any of these speakers turned up beyond zero dB – this is midway. All of the speakers point away from 3rd street. I dare anyone to come at any time and inspect. The same goes for the mixer – it is always at midway or less. On Saturdays we have a karaoke and again the speakers are at mid-point. Further, karaoke is a favorite pastime of the very elderly our “Concerned Resident” seeks to represent therefore, I strongly doubt the veracity of our ‘our Concerned Resident’ in this regard. Editor, COVID-19 has now become part of our lives and we must protect ourselves and others against it. Cigars and Cognac has recently acquired a Bio Security Stand which would check temperatures, dispense sanitizer all without the user having to touch it. We advocate the use of masks and we are adhering to the 40% capacity policy. The world and our country must move forward we have the modern tools to combat COVID-19 and we must use them.
Editor, the nature of our economy, and the depth of our public purse cannot support measures that would curb economy activity. Economic activity, especially in places like Melanie, must be supported or it may descend into dens for criminal activity or migration. We have had interactions with the Guyana Police Force and the COVID Task Force, and, at no time have we flouted the orders of these agencies. As a matter of fact they can verify that we have been cooperative, courteous and compliant. We have breached the curfew on two occasions and on both occasions arrests were made, therefore it is painful to see the degree of maliciousness that has gone into this missive by our “Concerned Resident”. Please note of importance, Editor, Cigars and Cognac is a family friendly environment – our Sunday Brunches are attended by young and old. Parents bring their children out on Friday afternoons to enjoy our wings and other tasty dishes. Persons celebrate birthdays and engagements at our place of business. The residents of the East Coast Corridor now have somewhere to go that is friendly and where they feel at home. We would hate to believe labeling one of our directors as a prominent coalition attorney and my association with Cigars and Cognac Inc. is the reason for this unwarranted public lampooning by our “Concerned Resident”. I wish to make it clear that we intend to abide within the confines of the law and to be socially responsible. We are willing and ready to work with our “Concerned Resident” and any member of the community who feel affected by our operations because we have no intentions closing down or moving elsewhere. Melanie is our home and we will build it economically.
Editor, we have donated $20,000 cash vouchers to elderly residents, we have made financial contributions to young people and NGOs, we have contributed to single mothers and the enhancement of the Melanie playground, we have donated play equipment for the kids and we are embarking on rehabilitating the Melanie North playground – all of this within a few months just for a bit of perspective, thank you. Finally, the current administration boasts of being business friendly, as a matter of fact, President Irfaan Ally has clearly stated that he does not wish for bars and entertainment spots to go bankrupt. However, the current curfew imposition of 9:30 pm does just that. Cigars and Cognac is empty during the day. We see a trickling of patrons by 9:30 pm since the majority of Guyanese goes to entertainment centres after 10:30 pm. Not to be facetious but Covid 19 does not go to bed when the police close down our centres at 10:30 pm. I urge the Government to put practical measures in place to ensure the entertainment centres continue to feed families and provide employment. The curfew for entertainment centres should be midnight and not 10:30pm.
Sincerely,
Floyd Arthur
James A Bond
Krishana Ross
