New York-based Guyanese businessman, Jameel ‘Hafeez’ Ali is a Special Person

Jan 01, 2023 News

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Building his legacy based on Guyanese hospitality and philanthropy…

By  Rehanna Ramsay

Kaieteur News – Before leaving these shores in search of greater opportunities in America, some thirty years ago, New York-based Guyanese businessman, Jameel ‘Hafeez’ Ali played an integral role in his family’s farming and subsequent fishing business here in Guyana.

These experiences gave him the groundwork he needed to develop what people now know, as Rockaway Roti Shop, the popular West Indian cuisine spot located in Queens, New York.

This week’s Special Person has spent the last three decades building his business based on the tenets of Guyanese hospitality and philanthropy.

The Guyanese businessman told Kaieteur News that though he had to work on creating a legacy from the ground up, he always knew he would be successful at what he does because, in Guyana, his family was always in business.

“Business is in my blood, it’s all I knew growing up in Guyana. So when I came to America as soon as I got my footing, I started to work towards developing my own restaurant,” Ali said.

Not only did he become successful in business but Mr.  Ali has made philanthropy a trademark of what he does.

Among his numerous efforts to give back, Ali returns home yearly for the past thirty years to host end-of-year outreaches where he caters to the needs of hundreds of people in communities throughout Guyana.

He said, “Every time I work in Guyana, I am aware of God’s blessings in every aspect, and it makes me happy to know that at the end of the day, I have made someone else’s day.”

LIFE IN GUYANA

Ali grew up in DochFour East Coast of Demerara, a village not too far from where he was born in Plantation Hope. He is the fifth child out of a total of seven for his parents, Shaira and Asgar ‘Aska’ Ali.

He said, “Growing up there impacts the work I do today in many different ways, starting with working with parents in farming and later fishing.”

The young Ali attended the Ann’s Grove Methodist School and the Bygeval Secondary School in Mahaica.

He said “…I’ve always thought of myself as being fairly intelligent because when I was younger, I skipped classes and went straight to the Common Entrance (now Grade 6) class. Fun fact, I also shared a class with Bharat Jagdeo, a former president of Guyana, during my school years.”

When he was a teenager, Ali made a decision to assist his father on his farm. He recalled there were numerous difficulties. He explained, “One of those difficulties was that, in 1982, the government had banned flour, I was at the age of 18 years and our family had planted 35 acres of rice, 18 acres of sweet cassava, and 5 acres of other garden crops…They took away all the land with our crops under the Burnham administration and Cecil Ram’s counsel.”

Ali continued that, “In order to purchase a fishing boat, my father ultimately had to sell the tractor and trailer.”

This compelled the young man to become a fisherman in order to support his family.

He said, “It wasn’t an easy moment for me; rather, it was a bit of a miserable time. I bit my tongue and learned as much as I could about fishing with the least amount of experience feasible in order to support my family. It was difficult because I had to travel back and forth from Clonbrook to Lusignan, which is not always a straightforward trip to undertake in Guyana.”

Ali recalled there were moments the boat’s captain couldn’t make it, he had to take charge and learn how to steer the vessel, this required giving up sleep and waking up as early as 4:00 am. He said there were instances when the boat had to travel all the way to Pomeroon.

The businessman also recalled when he got married to the beautiful Floretta, who was from Strathspey on the East Coast of Demerara.

He said, “My life was forever changed. We had a daughter, a boy two years later, and then another son who came several years after. I had to spend two months away from my family on a trawler while working hard to support my family, which at the time consisted of simply my wife, daughter, and son.”

Given the greater level of responsibility, Ali made a decision that fishing wasn’t enough and that it was time for a change.

“I decided to go out on my own. I took the fish to sell in other areas, such as Buxton. Although it was exceedingly laborious, it was worthwhile, and I learned the value of discipline,” he said.

FINDING HIS FOOTING

When he moved to New York in 1990, Ali started on the road to becoming a business owner in his adopted homeland.  He admitted that finding his footing in a foreign land was not easy but he was steadfast in achieving his goal.

He said, “I was a resident of Richmond Hill, Queens, New York, and initially worked in the construction sector, but soon after I was hired as a gas station attendant. I picked up new skills extremely fast in this position, and after six months, I received a wage raise and promotion to Assistant Manager.”

Later, he realized there was better waiting for him. He made the decision to start a cab service and eventually became fairly proficient in it.

Ali explained, “I started operating limos in 1995 and was having a blast until, after three years; I noticed a taxi service that had been put up for sale. After purchasing the car service, I was able to establish contact with and gain contracts with the hotels at John F. Kennedy International Airport by the year 2000.”

“Since we are open around the clock, I have increased the scope of my contracts with the airport, and my car service company has been doing quite well,” the businessman added.

ROCKAWAY ROTI SHOP

Along with the vehicle service, Ali told The Waterfall that he bought a property and started Rockaway Roti Shop. In addition to the restaurant and the car service, he also launched the wildly popular Royal Empress Catering Hall.

He said that this was mainly due to a scarcity of roti businesses in the South Ozone Park, Queens, NY neighbourhood. The roti shop opened on March 15, 2005.

Ali noted, “When I opened the roti shop, at the time, Sybil’s was the only other predominantly owned Guyanese Roti Shop/Bakery in New York.”

As a fisherman, he was quite familiar with curries and cooking in general because he learned to cook while working on the boat, which was one of the other reasons for him starting the restaurant and roti shop.

“I had learned how to cook when growing up in Guyana, so when I established the roti shop, I already knew how to do it. I also had expertise in customer service from operating limos, so I knew how to interact with people professionally.”

Today, Mr. Ali feels eternally grateful to the Almighty, for a tremendously successful company.

He noted, “Since the day I established Rockaway Roti Shop and the other business, I have seen many successes.  Many Guyanese and West Indians know and love the service that we offer.”

Ali continued, “As the Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, always stops by the restaurant whenever he is in New York, I can say that Rockaway Roti Shop is the greatest.”

OUTREACH IN GUYANA

From the inception of his successes in businesses, Mr. Ali has paired work with philanthropy.

He said when he started to see the rewards of his labour, his first thought was how he could assist the people of his homeland.

Ali explained, “I’ve loved the game of cricket for a very long time…but I remember the days when I yearned for and wanted nothing more than some appropriate gear to play a game I loved but was unable to acquire cricket equipment for myself as a child.”

He continued, “The primary reason I have always helped my fellow countrymen as much and will continue to do so is that I am aware of how difficult it is for them to obtain many of the things we in America take for granted.”

As such, over the years, the NY-based businessman has contributed money, cricket gear, and uniforms and to assist in the restoration of cricket as well as many other playgrounds in Guyana. He has also helped fund cricket teams in Guyana.

He stated, “I strive to do as much as I can for the citizens of the nation I adore. I have also given financial support to religious institutions all around Guyana, such as the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), where I annually sponsor a teacher.”

In addition, Mr. Ali has provided financial support to numerous other groups in Guyana throughout the years.

He told this publication that, “I recently returned over the holiday and took care of everyone by giving them dinner, giving the kids toys and clothing, giving the adults clothing and other things they wouldn’t typically have. I try to do this, every time I visit.”

He said the philanthropic work he has done in Guyana has always been enjoyable for him.

“I recall how it was when I was growing up, and I always thought and was taught that the more you give and the more you help people, at the very least make them smile, the more blessings you will ultimately receive from the Almighty. I never have a moment without feeling utter joy and happiness for what I have done for the people of Guyana,” he said.

SUPPORT SYSTEM

Behind every successful venture is a strong support system, and Mr. Ali is very aware of this. To this end, he credits his many achievements to his family.

He stressed, “My family is always there for me, no matter how ridiculous the concept may have seemed to them. So at the end of the day, I cherish the fact that my wife Floretta Ali, my adored children Sherita Ali Roopnarine, Imran Ali, and Javed Ali, as well as my adoring granddaughter Ameera Ali, will always support me and encourage me in all I do.”

He added, “From starting Rockaway Car Service, Rockaway Roti Shop, and then Royal Empress Hall, to the charitable work I’ve done in Guyana, they are always there with me. For instance, one of my sons recently traveled with me to Guyana to help me distribute food and gifts to a community center that was home to over 300 people, and I am confident he understood what it means to help others.”

Consequentially, the businessman believes that everyone should have something to contribute to their native land.

“I say this because, while there is unquestionably potential in America, one only needs to put in the same amount of effort and commitment to get Guyana to a place where it can succeed,” asserted Ali.

Even as he thrives in business and other aspects of his life, Ali notes that his ultimate goal is to leave a legacy of success so that his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will have something to look forward to and have as their own.

“This is true of the work I do in Guyana as well as the work at the roti shop, car service, and catering hall, and it applies to all of them,” he said.

 

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