Prime Minister?Freundel Stuart has hailed Andrew Bynoe as a major success story and said such champion entrepreneurs have exploded the myth that black businesses do not last beyond the first generation.
Stuart lavished praise on Bynoe at the soft opening of the multi-million dollar Carlton A1 supermarket at Black Rock, St Michael Sunday that was enhanced by the musical strains of the National Youth Orchestra and two selections from the St Leonard’s Boys Choir.
“The future of this iconic institution is in good hands. I believe that the story of Carlton A1 supermarket should be essential reading for budding entrepreneurs in Barbados,” Stuart said, before an audience that included President of the Senate Sir Branford Taitt, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, prominent businessmen Sir David Seale, Ralph “Bizzy”?Williams, John B.?Simpson, Senator Geoffrey Cave and Dean Harold Crichlow.
Bynoe, managing director of the supermarket which will open its doors to business next Monday, said he had always believed in possibilities like his father, whom he said was a speculator and could do anything.
He traced back his years which involved working at Cave Shepherd and R. L. Seale and forging business ties with Sir David, Simpson, and retired banker Freddie Hart.
Bynoe and Sir David purchased JB’s Supermarket in 1981 and began to trade under the name A1 Supermarket Ltd. Bynoe eventually bought the 75 per cent shares owned by R. L. Seale in 1985.
By 1987, he was ready to take up the offer of acquiring Carlton from R. L. Seale and by 1989, he was the sole owner.
Stuart said that Bynoe and his business partners had defied the odds to undertake such an investment in these perilous economic times and should be commended for having the foresight and drive.
“The Carlton expansion is a bold attempt to confront existing challenges by increasing efficiency, by updating the physical plant, by investing in the retraining of staff and by showing a willingness to reward enterprise and innovation on the shop floor.
“This is a most welcome statement of confidence in the future,” Stuart said.
