Giftland Mall single biggest innovation in country’s commerce –Nagamootoo

Jun 28, 2015 News

The introduction of the Giftland Mall was praised by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo as the single largest innovation in commerce in Guyana.

Giftland President, Roy Beepat (right) shows off the Mall’s department store to the Prime Minister and his wife.

He expressed this view following a tour of the Pattensen, East Coast Demerara (ECD), complex yesterday. The tour was conducted by Giftland’s President, Roy Beepat. It included visits to the power-plant, shopping areas and the Caribbean Cinema’s eight screen Cineplex.
Among the tour group was the Prime Minister’s wife, Sita Nagamootoo, as well as Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. The tour of the complex came ahead of the Mall’s July 2 public opening.
During the tour of the US$24M mall, the group visited the five-megawatt dual generators which will power the entire complex.
After the tour of the power-station, the group visited four of the stores which will be operational in the mall’s phase one opening. Among the stores were the electronic, sports department and home furnishing stores. The Prime Minister remarked that one could “walk the whole day in here,” as the tour continued through various sections of the complex.
Beepat led the delegation to one of the mall’s most anticipated features— the Caribbean

PM Moses Nagamootoo and his wife, Sita Nagamootoo cosy up in one of Caribbean Cinema’s theatres.

Cinemas Cineplex. The delegation had the chance to experience the cinema’s seating, surround sound system and multi-storey screen.
The Prime Minister appeared particularly impressed by the cinema. He and his wife reclined in the seats of the cinema as if on a first date.
Caribbean Cinemas is a Puerto Rican-based company which has over 400 screens across the region. Their Guyana opening will be the company’s first mainland operation, and is said to have the latest technology including 3D capability in all eight screens. The cineplex boasts 1100 seats.
After the tour, the Prime Minister related his excitement for the project and said that he has never seen anything like it in his 53 years of public life. To that end, he added that the mall will cater to a standard which Guyanese look forward to.
“Guyanese always look forward to having high quality services and to have delivery of services,” said PM Nagamootoo. He noted that this will not only mean affordable shopping but services outside of just buying products.
The Giftland Mall was also deemed a multiplex which is going to provide a multi-dimensional view of business, said the Prime Minister. He added it can be a business “boom” as more establishments aim for higher quality and better environments.
Sharing in this sentiment was Public Infrastructure Minister, Patterson who was impressed by the layout and what it has to offer to the public. As someone who has travelled extensively, Minister Patterson said that he thinks the mall will be a success “especially in the entertainment area”.
“These are the types of projects we (in Guyana) need to do. Internally funded projects are what we need to move the country forward, rather than waiting on a foreign investor.” said the Minister. He added that he was notified that the country’s banks have over US$1.2B of inactive liquidity and such projects, by private businesses, can go a far way in developing the country.