RAYNEAU GROUP OF COMPANIES LTD PRESENT AWARDS TO CASTRIES NORTH YOUTH EXPO ASPIRING ENTERPRENEURS

On Saturday June 18, 2022, at the La Clery Community Centre, Rayneau Group of Companies Ltd presented over $20,000.00 to aspiring young entrepreneurs from the Castries North Constituency, as an incentive to further their entrepreneurial skills and talents showcased at the Youth Expose which was held earlier this year.At Saturday’s presentation ceremony, Parliamentary Representative, Hon. Stephen king, officials of Rayneau Group of Companies Ltd, Mr. Gajadhar and Mr. Clauzel, Deputy Castries City Mayor, Tandi Floyd, media crew from Ministry of Infrastructure and Ports Services, and representatives of the Castries North Youth Council and other invited guests were present.

These young business persons at Saturday’s ceremony, while at the Youth Expo, which was held at the La Clery Playing field on May 29, 2022, were given the opportunity to showcase their talents and products. During the ceremony, the aspiring young entrepreneurs were handed certificates and monetary incentives from Mr. Gajadhar and the Hon Stephenson King.

Mr. Gajadhar, CEO of Rayneau Group of Companies, who was out of the island at the time, hearing about this youth expo, immediately .directed the Executive Director of the company, Mr. Anselm Clauzel, to find out more about this initiative.  Mr. Clauzel’s report must have impressed Mr. Gajadhar, as the latter in a phone call to the Parliamentary Representative, Hon. Stephen King, pledged to donate $1000.00 to every participant.

Mr. Gajadhar has always shown great interest in the development of youth in this country and Mr. Clauzel, in his short remarks made mention of Gen-X, a past program with the same concept expressed at the Youth Expo. “In 2010, twelve years ago, Rayneau came up with an idea called the GEN-X……GEN_X program, and what he did in that program, [are] similar, we looked for young people with innovative ideas, and at the time, he put in the pool $50,000.00 towards that program twelve years ago.  And out of that program. I was amazed on that Sunday to see one of the participants who got a contribution during that time, Serita Alcee, her daughter was actually one of the participants. And so it gives us great joy to see that even right now the other generation is already coming up.”  Clauzel remarked.

Hon Stephenson King, Parliamentary Representative for Castries North Constituency, gave the genesis of the Youth Expo. He went on to give credit to Mellissa Moses and her team for the idea and initiative.

The Rep went on to thank Mr. Gajadhar for his contribution and for coming forward to sensitize these upcoming entrepreneurs. He went on, “I want to thank Mr. Gajadhar for having heard of the initiative, and having discussed the incentives with him, he was able to send a scout around, to scout, to see what is being produced, to see the talent, to see the initiative, to look at the ideas, and to himself, come forward and say I want to do more….”

Referring to the entrepreneurs, he says, “But this must be an incentive today – an incentive to give you an encouragement to move on with your ideas not to give up, but to move forward and know that there are people who are willing if you demonstrate the passion. Of you demonstrate the skill, the true intention, and if you have the discipline it calls for in business, to move on with your business. This is what this is all about.”

Mr. Gajadhar’s remarks were bent on motivating the young entrepreneurs and giving them the courage to move on and succeed. The CEO began his remarks by relating to the attentive audience how he got wind of the Castries North Constituency Youth Expo and how he ended up making the promise to the Parliamentary Representative - thanks to Christopher Hunte’s marketing prowess.

But apart from the promised $1000.00 for each of the 16 participants, M.r Gajadhar had a few surprises up his, sleeves. “In terms of what I can do again, I was thinking [that] apart from the $1000.00  I agreed to give, I also agreed with the team that they should elect three people that I will give an additional incentive,” Mr. Gajadhar announced. The three special prizes were awarded to Shorvanie J. Leon - $1500.00, Annce A. Reece - $1000.00, and Chelsey Alcee - $500.00.

L-R: Ms.Reece, Ms Alcee and, Ms Leon,

“How can we move forward, I heard the Minister ask,  and what we can do?,” was the question posed by Mr., Gajadhar to the participants. He continued, “Now that you have participated without looking for anything in return, what can I give you in return?  And I started thinking of what I can give to motivate you even more. I need you to keep the accounts of what you're doing and the profits that you make at the end of the first year, I will give 50% of the profit back.” (Thunderous applause)

    Expo Highlights - Credits: Courtesy - Christopher Hunte

This gesture Mr. Gahadhar says is to motivate the participants to do well and be profitable and to encourage them to keep proper accounts.

Mr. Gajadhar took a moment from his remarks to thank his wife, although not being too well, found the strength to get out of bed to sign the cheques to present here today. “I want to say a special thank you to her for being part of this………….. I want to give most of the credit to her today to make sure the cheques are here,” Mr. Gahadhar said.

“The sky is the limit” is what Mr. Gajadhar left with the young entrepreneurs as he completed giving them a short history of where he started and where he is at today.

Certificates of participation were presented by the parliamentary Representative to all the young business persons, while the CEO and Executive Director of Rayneau Group presented the monetary awards.

In closing the ceremony the Parliamentary Representative thanked Mr. Gajadhar for his contributions to this youth initiative and looks forward to his continued support in the future. The Rep also took the opportunity to present his personal monetary prizes which he coined “Favourites” to three of the participants.