Dawn Azan (left), director of Mega Mart, helps Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Technology Colin Campbell, to cut the ribbon at the official opening of the Mega Mart Pharmacy in Portmore, St. Catherine. CHIEF EXECUTIVE Officer of the Mega Mart stores Gassan Azan, on Saturday, expressed concern about the effect of the current crime debate on the country.
"The debate and not the crime itself will become counter productive and completely demotivate an already demoralised productive sector," he said.
He was speaking at the official opening of the Mega Mart Pharmacy in Portmore, St. Catherine.
Mr. Azan suggested that while the country deals with the problem of crime it should get on with production and find means to further economic activity.
"We have to do our best to foster growth and development and to make whatever contribution we can to create wealth and employment," he said, urging his business colleagues not to sit back and be immobilised by fear.
"In the final analysis, the onus rests on the entrepreneur to come up with the ideas and take the risks."
He said that in the process of building the 70,000 square foot store, he often wondered whether he had made the right investment because of the challenges and the warnings from colleagues to abort the project. He added, however, that his confidence in the country was justified.
Mega Mart, which currently has about 44,000 registered members, employs more than 240 people, mainly from Portmore.
