Veteran Public/Private sector manager Dr Leslie Chin C.C.H, is a ‘Special Person’

Jun 17, 2018 Features / Columnists, News, Special Person

---

 

 “Very important to me is the Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule which dictates that 20 percent of activities account for 80 percent of outcomes.”

By Rehanna Ramsay

He’s the visionary behind the once popular baby-weaning food ‘CEREX’ and in the corporate ring, he’s renowned for his brilliant leadership skills and expertise, with a career which spans over fifty years.
This week’s special person has over time, fostered a successful management career in both the public and the private sector. And even after retirement, his input in these sectors is valued and sought after.
As such, Kaieteur News has chosen to highlight, the work of the much deserving, Dr. Leslie Chin, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Sterling Products Limited.
Even with failing eyesight, Dr. Chin is always willing to share his knowledge on various topics and wants to contribute to the well-being of his country and people for as long as he can.
As such, the seasoned manager still serves on several corporate boards including the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited, Demerara Bank Limited, Pomeroon Oil Mill Limited, Guyana Marketing Corporation, Laparkan Holdings Limited and the National Aquaculture Association of Guyana. He was also a board member of the Guyana Sugar Corporation.
But despite what appears to be an already packed schedule, for a person in their golden years, the SPL Chairman still finds time to offer himself to community service.

His efforts include starting a successful microcredit scheme for residents of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara and St Cuthbert’s Mission, recently renamed (Pakuri), an Amerindian settlement where he worked as a Mentor for more than 40 years.
Speaking to Kaieteur News about his achievements, Dr. Chin noted that his drive for success was fostered early in his career. He always had concerns for what the poor eat.
Perhaps that was the premise for the creation in 1986 of the baby-weaning food CEREX — a product that was much appreciated, since it came at a time when certain food items were banned from the local markets. However, Dr. Chin said his interest in nutrition came at the earliest stage of his life—childhood.
IMPRESSIONABLE AGE
Born on December 12, 1937, in La Penitence, Georgetown, to parents, Elaine Fong- Chin and Clarence Eric Chin, both Chinese immigrants, a young Leslie spent most of his early childhood at his parents’ Drysdale Street Charlestown grocery shop.
He was the second child in a household which consisted of eleven siblings.
“I recall my parents ran a successful grocery business on Drysdale Street in Charlestown and a Supermarket on High Street, up until they migrated to Canada in the 1970s.”
Besides the family business, education was of paramount importance to the Chin household.
“Education was a big thing for my parents, so they had eleven children attending school at one time,” Dr. Chin added.

“I attended the Broad Street Government School in Charlestown. Going to school for the first time was a bit difficult for me, because I had to learn English.
“I was about five years old when I began to learn English because at home my parents only spoke Chinese.”
Dr. Chin reminisced, “My parents migrated to what was known then as British Guiana in 1934 –just three years before I was born.”
Soon he developed a love for academics and began to excel in his education.
“I would say that I was pretty bright. I brought 1st, 2nd or third in almost every school term.”
At the secondary level, Chin attended Central High School where he obtained nine subjects.
After sitting the Senior Cambridge Examinations, he went on to attend Queen’s College and completed his ‘A’ levels.
“I recall that back then, there were three options; you either become a doctor, lawyer or engineer. I choose the science stream.”

After completing his schooling locally, the young academic set his sights overseas.
“I was on a Government Scholarship so I travelled to Europe, to attend the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. That‘s when I was introduced to British culture. As a foreigner, I attended classes in British etiquette. There I was taught how to use the knife and fork, something that was quite new to me, since back home we only used chopsticks,” Dr. Chin said with a chuckle.
During his time overseas, he earned a PhD at the Human Nutrition Research Institute at the University of London and a B.Sc in biochemistry.
He graduated with first-class honours from the University of Aberdeen.

DUTIFUL SERVICE
Early in his career, Dr. Chin was employed as assistant government analyst and later a Manager of Georgetown Milk Pasteurization Plant. There, he was instrumental in effectively stopping the dumping of 100,000 gallons of milk annually by introducing the manufacturing of peanut punch.
“I was on a government scholarship, so when I returned from overseas, I went to work for the State.”
He was also employed as a group Technical Director for GPC Group of Companies with responsibilities for Research and Development, at Quality Foods (Guyana) Ltd.
This was in addition to being Executive Director of other companies in the Group; Guyana Stockfeeds Ltd; National Paint Company Ltd; Guyana Soap and Detergent Company Ltd.
Sitting at the helm of these teams, Dr. Chin led and completed feasibility studies for the new pharmaceutical plant, new stockfeed plant, a soap manufacturing operation, a cereal processing operation, a Soybean Company with agriculture operations of 60 acres and expansion of oil palm cultivation at Wauna by 2,000 acres.
It was around this time that, Dr. Chin recalled that one of his most outstanding creations was invented.
“Guyana was in a transition phase. The country was now independent and the then President (Forbes Burnham), was introducing Guyanese to an “Eat What You Grow,” initiative. It was a difficult period for many Guyanese since we now had a closed economy. Burnham had effectively banned items like flour—an essential food for many households.

“I believe salt, fuel, lubricating oil and pharmaceuticals were among the few items that were allowed to legally enter Guyana.”
Dr. Chin recalled that households were crying out over the flour ban. It was then the idea for CEREX baby-weaning food was introduced.
The product was made from instant rice flour and became a hit on the local market.
“CEREX remained a number one breakfast cereal in Guyana for a number of years, “he said. “It was sold at all the shops and major outlets across the country and mothers would get special discounts on the item.”
That same year, Dr. Chin became the Executive Chairman of National Edible Oil Company Ltd (NEOCOL), and earned his first national award “Arrow of Achievement”, for the growth of the edible oil sector in the mid-1980s.
He was bestowed with another national award, the Cacique Crown of Honour, (CCH) in 2016, for his sterling contribution to the field of business and management in Guyana.
Outside of his public achievements, Dr. Chin shares a simple family life with his wife of more than 50 years, Eileen Ngui-Kon-Sue Chin. Together the couple has four children and five grandchildren—all of whom reside overseas.
The Chins spend most of their leisure time at their modest Bel Air Park, Georgetown home. They would as often as they could, travel to Canada to visit their children and grandchildren.
“We never wanted to live outside of Guyana, so we stayed here while our children migrated after completing their schooling.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
When he first started out, Dr. Chin recalled that he wanted to do something for Guyana besides working in the corporate field, to make a difference.
“So a group of us, my colleagues and I decided to start a community development project at St Cuthbert’s Mission.”
Among the projects, the group was responsible for the formation of the first cooperative shop at St Cuthbert’s Mission. Since then, Dr. Chin has never stopped supporting community projects.
“It‘s been 50 years since I have been a Mentor at St Cuthbert’s Mission.”
Dr. Chin is a passionate Rotarian, serving the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central as President and Charter member. He is also credited for creating a microenterprise Loan Window on behalf of IPED, and starting a Hinterland Trust to make loans available to Amerindian communities.
In 1991, Dr. Chin became Director of Canadian Executive Service Organization Business Advisory Services, a group which is responsible for bringing 450 Volunteers from Canada to advise small businesses in Guyana.
Even with all this success under his belt, Dr. Chin is chairing the board of one of the nation’s successful entities. Sterling Products Limited continues to do well, investing significant sums in its infrastructure in 2016, as well as over the last 10 years in the development of new products.
As a corporate figure, Dr. Chin admits that life is not always smooth sailing.
In those moments, the SPL Chairman says he keeps a positive outlook and holds to his philosophies.
One of which is believed to be of Buddhist origin; “there are three solutions that keep you in a positive frame of mind,” he said, adding that his mantra includes the phrase ‘if you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it”
“And also very important to me is the Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule which dictates that 20 percent of activities account for 80 percent of outcomes.”

---

---