By Indrawattie Natram
Forty-two-year-old Iftikar Mohamed, a businessman of Cotton Field Village on the Essequibo Coast, has commissioned a multimillion-dollar state-of-the-art supermarket at Supenaam.
The father of four said the opening of his second supermarket was a testimony of true courage and determination. He attributed his successes to the almighty and his wife Safeeina.
Mohamed ventured into the business of wholesaling and retailing some nine years ago and today, he said, he is proud to be able to have opened a supermarket at a location where there was a dire need for one. Mohamed is said to be the first businessman to open a supermarket on the Essequibo Coast after which some 25 other businessmen followed.
Operating under the logo “Shop safe and save”, the businessman said his supermarket will serve as a hub for the Supenaam and Essequibo Islands environs.
When asked what prompted him to establish such a huge business in the Supenaam area, Mohamed noted that after a feasibility study was conducted, it was noticed that there was no business of such nature at Supenaam and very often, persons had to journey to the town of Anna Regina or Parika to source basic necessities.
He said, too, that the decision to expand his supermarket was birthed five years ago and after receiving encouragement from “excellent business consultants,” the first pillar was laid in May last year.
Mohamed said the land was acquired first, after which the process commenced and today he has not regretted making the choice he did.
Humanitarian spirit
Apart from the construction of the multimillion-dollar supermarket, Mohamed has constructed a masjid for the people living in the Good Hope area. The masjid was a gift, he said, and a way of expressing his gratitude to the community for their support during the construction of the supermarket.
On the opening day of Safeway Supermarket, 22 elders 80 years and over were given complimentary hampers.
Meanwhile, the official ribbon cutting ceremony was done by Social Protection Minister Amna Ally. She was accompanied by Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, acting Regional Executive Officer Deryck Persaud and Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Arnold Adams.
During the simple ceremony, Minister Ally said the businessman has set a pace for others to emulate. She alluded to the fact that he would have transformed the landscape of the Good Hope-Pomona area with the construction of the supermarket. Ally noted that the supermarket is a testimony to the development that is taking place in the Supenaam area.
Meanwhile, Ramdatt congratulated the businessman on behalf of the Region’s Council. He said he is very proud to learn that the opening of the supermarket provided employment for 10 persons living within the area and also for further community development.
Additionally, Adams also commended the efforts of the businessman and pledged the support of the NDC. Persons living around the area can now purchase a variety of items since the supermarket will be selling most products that are available from leading companies.
