Courts (Guy) Country Manager to head Regional entity

Aug 20, 2010 News

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Country Manager Courts Guyana Inc. Lester Alvis has been promoted to Managing Director of the OECS region for Courts Caribbean. This will be effective from September 1.
The 45-year-old Alvis, who is a British citizen, first joined the Courts Family in the United Kingdom in 1993 and after successfully opening the flagship superstore in Watford which is north of London, was appointed Operations Manager/Furniture Buyer for Courts Dominica in July 1995. In February of 1996, he was appointed Operations Director for Courts Indonesia, where he was responsible for successfully executing a very aggressive store expansion programme. After two successful years in Courts Indonesia, he returned to Courts U.K as Customer Service Executive in March of 1998 and was responsible for a drastic reduction in the level of complaints, throughout the 100-branch network.
In October 2002, he was appointed Operations Director for Courts Guyana and assumed the Managing Director role in 2005. The entity in a statement noted that, “Under Lester’s dynamic leadership, for the past five years the Courts business in Guyana has been successfully re-engineered, making the brand even more prominent”.
Prior to joining Courts, Alvis spent 10 years in Operations Management with another UK-based multi-national retailer. He has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Stirling University, specializing in marketing. He is married and has two children.
Mr. Clyde de Haas who is currently the Director of Purchasing has been identified as Alvis’ successor. Mr. de Haas has a Masters in Wood Technology from the Royal University of Ghent in Belgium and a Business Diploma from Harvard University. According to the statement, he has a wealth of experience with the Courts brand.
In 1999 he joined the Courts Family as Furniture Buyer. After a few years he was promoted to Director of Furniture Purchasing after which he took on the role as Director of Purchasing and Customer Service. For the past two years, Mr. de Haas has also been involved in the Operations and the Marketing aspects of the business.
From September 1, he will be the Interim Country Manager.
The statement from the furniture giant also noted that it is with mixed feelings that they say farewell to Lester Alvis, adding that he will be missed professionally as he had become part of the Courts Guyana family in the past eight years. It was emphasized that Alvis has served the business at the top level of management and during his tenure has shown unwavering commitment to the business and to his team.
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Annandale electrocution…

Homeowner on $200,000 bail

Annandale resident Cleon Williams secured his pre-trial liberty at $200,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Haymant Ramdhani at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on a manslaughter charge.
Williams is accused of unlawfully causing the death of eight-year-old Mark Anthony August, who perished after he came into contact with an illegal electricity connection on the Annandale Railway Embankment last Sunday.
The cable was discovered to be connected to Williams’ house on the embankment.
However the bail did not go down well with the mother and other relatives of the deceased who turned up in their numbers at the court to witness the proceedings.
Williams, of 74 Annandale, was represented by Defence Counsel Sandil Kissoon, who in his application for bail told the court that the accused is married and is a father of six, the youngest being 16 years old.
The attorney said that his client had no previous or pending matter in the court.
According to Kissoon, Williams upon learning that he was being sought by investigators in connection with the incident, turned himself over to the police.
Police Prosecutor, Corporal Clement had no objection to the accused being granted bail, since he claimed that the investigations were over and he was ready to commence the Preliminary Inquiry.
Magistrate Ramdhani then granted bail and set October 15 for the commencement of Preliminary Inquiry.
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Businesswoman’s execution …

Another close associate questioned by police

As the police continue to probe for a motive behind the execution-style killing of businesswoman Leriea Bristol, officials yesterday confirmed that a close male relative of the woman had been questioned.
Bristol, who resided at 285 Well Road, North Ruimveldt, was shot dead just as she was about to enter her yard on August 4. She received a single gunshot wound behind the left ear.
Kaieteur News was told that the relative, who was out of the country when the woman was killed, had made himself available for questioning, but the police were unable to derive anything significant from the interview.
On the fateful night, Bristol had just returned from church and was opening her gate when a gunman who appeared to be waiting in the dark confronted her.
The woman’s niece, Shamaine, who resided with her, had told police that she was inside when she heard about three gunshots.
She said when she looked outside she saw Bristol, slumped on the bridge near the gate.
The fatally wounded businesswoman was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
None of the jewellery she was wearing at the time was removed from her body.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, had stated that from all appearances the woman’s murder appeared to be a “hit”.

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