Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer

Mandeville now has its own MegaMart store. And on Wednesday, scores of Jamaicans from the corporate, social and political arenas converged on the spacious grounds located along Perth Road and right across from Manchester High School. This marks the completion of the fourth store in the chain of the MegaMart Wholesale Club.

The store was opened by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, guest speaker. Other politicians present included former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, National Security Minister Peter Bunting, Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw, and Richard Azan, state minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing.

corporate companies

Also present was a large number of corporate companies, among them, clients and service providers of MegaMart.

The project, which cost $1.2 billion, was done on a build own lease (BOL) agreement between Scotia Investments and Gassan Azan Jr, chairman and chief executive officer of MegaMart.

Simpson Miller congratulated Azan and the entire MeagMart family on "a world-class establishment". "By observation, this MegaMart store appears to be a cut above the other locations in Kingston, Portmore and Montego Bay. It is simply the best, and so it should be as you deliver quality world-class service to Jamaican consumers by way of this impressive chain of wholesale and retail clubs."

Bruce Bowen, president and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica, was pleased with the project. He said, "MegaMart Mandeville is an example of how we work together as partners between a financial sector and a leading entrepreneur, to develop innovative solutions that allow businesses to grow and help the financial sector, but help also investors."

The store employs more than 270 persons from Manchester.

"For the Jamaican shopper, each MegaMart commercial complex offers the convenience of shopping in style and comfort for a variety of goods and services," Azan explained.

"Today, the MegaMart family can take a certain degree of pride in one of Jamaica's success stories. We have pioneered a revolution in the local retail industry and collectively established the standard by which other retail enterprises are judged."

"The MegaMart family stands ready to do everything possible to ensure that Jamaica is firmly set on the path of sustained economic growth and job creation," Azan said.

Sandals Resorts Int'l's Adam Stewart catches up on business inside the largest MegaMart superstore, Mandeville, on Wednesday.