Gary Hunt, the 35-year-old founder of the Radical Designs chain of clothing stores, is the new Entrepreneur of the Year. Hunt's award culminated the Entrepreneur of the Year Award banquet held on Saturday October 10th at Hilton Trinidad.

"This award goes to Generation X, as in X-Files, X-Games, X-treme… we are the generation that is going to take this country forward," said Hunt, who confessed that he did not expect to win the award although he had won earlier that night in his category - services, retail and distribution.

Hunt beat out stiff competition from service industry long-timers Ferreira Optical, distributors Splendid Foods, and marketing specialist All Round Trading Company.

Other winners of the night were Fazal Mohammed of Warnerville Grain Mills Limited, who was named best in the manufacturing and food processing sector; and Piero Guerrini of Mount Plaisir Estate Hotel, who won in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Hunt, in a black suit with white shirt and tie, looked like an advertisement for his own clothing line, which sells an image of being cool, chic and contemporary. The other category winners were less sartorially daring, but at least one raised the packed Hilton Ballroom to cheers.

Michael Cooper of Trinidad and Tobago Instruments Ltd. was named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year for his pan factory and his Pan-land pans.

Cooper reminded Prime Minister Basdeo Panday that he said he would learn to play pan when a good teaching tape was available.

"Our teaching video is the best on the market… and it has been out since 1995," said Cooper, "It is time to buy your pan."

Panday gave the feature address of the night. In his speech, he said the 1998/1999 Budget had been generous to small business and entrepreneurs.

"A critical aspect of that presentation was Government's continued emphasis on the development and expansion of the business sector, and the stimulation of entrepreneurship and enterprise development," he said.

He listed the Budget measures designed for those purposes, including the $150 million funding of an Enterprise Development Support System; $30 million to the SBDC; and $18,000 tax deduction in respect of mortgage payments to include tertiary education; and the introduction of training programmes in micro and small business development in schools.

Panday also highlighted the reduction of the business levy to a quarter of one per cent; the increase in the threshold for exemption from that business levy; and the exemption of all new businesses from this levy for the first three years.

He said that he would be " the first to concede that the country's economic success, particularly the gains in the non oil sector, would not have been possible without our partners in enterprise, and without the close partnership between Government and private sector."

The awards were started last year by Ernest and Young, who have originated them in the United States 11 years ago. Independent Senator Phillip Marshall, managing partner of Ernest and Young, said past winners internationally included Michael Dell of Dell Computers and Tedd Waitt of Gateway 2000.

Last year's winner of the local leg, Wilbur Balgobin of Willie's Ice Cream, said his win had boosted his business. "Willie's Ice Cream immediately became a point of interest for some companies from across North America who not only offered congratulations but made overtures from which business began to germinate," he said.

The awards were also sponsored by Republic Bank, CL Financial, Development Finance Ltd., Cliffs and Associates Ltd., Tidco and Caribbean Communications Network (CCN).

Craig Reynald, CCN chief executive officer, presented one of the awards.

A special award for the Master Entrepreneur was given this year for the first time. The inaugural award went to Ansa McAl chairman, Anthony Sabga.

Sabga, 75, was recognized for his work in building Standards from a single furniture store he started in 1935 into the massive conglomerate which earned $238.5 million in pre-tax profit last year.
  TOP