Prime Minister, PSC gets sneak peek of Giftland Office Max’s Mega Mall

With more than $3B already invested and sitting on a 10 acre site, the Giftland Office Max Mega Mall, promises to be every bit of the dream envisioned by its Principal Roy Beepat.
Beepat yesterday provided a special site tour for Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) namely its Chairman Ronald Webster and Deputy Clinton Urling among others.
The team visiting the Liliendaal learnt that once completed will boast eight state-of-the-art movie theatres, a 12 land bowling alley, pool halls, jumbo aquariums, sunlight ceiling, dozens of first class dining facilities and shopping centers among other amenities.
Beepat informed yesterday that the venture is being funded through support from local Commercial Banks and two private investors.
Nonetheless the project which is being undertaken in, three phases has already racked up a price tag bordering $4B.
Beepat acquired the property in 2008 with construction commencing the following year.
The mega facility is scheduled to open its doors to the public in March 2013 and according to Beepat, in sharing words of advice to naysayers, “if you don’t believe in something don’t do it…I believe.”
Upon initial completion, Beepat says that the Mega Mall will employ some 800 persons and by final completion this figure is expected to rise to 2000 persons directly employed.
Such an interest has been generated in the Mega Mall facility, meant to outshine any in the region, that Beepat says if all the applications were to be accepted that have been submitted to date, ‘the mall would already be filled.’
He said however that there will be a rigorous screening process for potential clientele looking to serve customers using the mega Facility.
Beepat notes that customer service standards, tax compliance and warranty packages are but a few of the stringent criteria that will determine the personnel that occupy the mall.
The local entrepreneur stresses that he wants to ensure the highest of standards for the final consumers of the Mall, located aback the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Guyana Conference Centre.
Clinton Urling the PSC Deputy Chairman, when invited to give remarks conceded that he was dumbfounded by the magnitude of the investment and project.
Urling revealed that when he first learnt of the project, he wondered why Beepat simply did not seek to acquire another piece of land adjoining the Giftland Office Max facility on Water Street, in Tiger bay Georgetown.
Urling says that at the time he surmised that the expansion project could have been undertaken in the Georgetown Ward.
He conceded that it was only after realizing the magnitude of the facility and the promise it holds, that he would have fully comprehended and could appreciate the bold move by Beepat.
The Prime Minister following the tour said that “today is a good day for Guyana.”
He said that he was particularly impressed with the entrepreneur’s vision, which he found to be pellucid, “I was very much impressed Mr Beepat
The Prime Minister lauded the move and said that it is a reflection of the progress the country has made over the years.
Beepat during a briefing interaction with the media said that there has been no concession granted by the government in the form of tax holidays or otherwise and advocated that this be revisited.
He says that undertaking such an investment is an onerous task and as such made a subtle plea in the presence of the Prime Minister, for a reconsideration of Govt. concessions.
Upon completion the Mega-Mall is also expected to boast a six-floor multi level, car park which would also serve to provide a “Taxi Stand” and ‘Bus Terminal.
A Casino is also said to be constructed in the mega facility.
Such a grandiose venture it is that Beepat promises upon completion, the facility will also boast a “connecting automatic skywalk between the multi tiered car park facility and a wing” of the Mega Mall structure.