Dear Editor,
Rarely have we seen a businessman succeed in Guyana who doesn’t pay bribes. Many people would say that it’s impossible to be a successful businessman or woman in the country and not pay bribes.
However, Mr. Terrence Campbell disagrees. Mr. Campbell is quoted as saying, “he doesn’t pay bribes to the police, politicians nor to custom officials.”
How he is able to own several successful businesses in the country and not pay bribes baffled me. How is he able to do it? I would like for him to tell me so that I can do the same thing. I tried it and failed. For example, I tried to build a house without paying bribes but was unable. In less than a month, I was forced to pay bribes.
Editor, everyone has someone they define as a role model. In my opinion, a role model is defined as someone who has good moral character and integrity, not just someone who has accumulated wealth and power. And their conduct and character outside of the business community is outstanding. In the writer’s opinion, Mr. Campbell is such a good role model.
Editor, what impressed me about Mr. Campbell is that he’s one of only a few businessman that I have heard of that is un-bribable. When President Granger was looking for someone who is un-bribable, he should have gone to Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Campbell is strongly opposed to taking or paying a bribe. He articulated this during his testimony to the City Hall’s COI. If Mr. Campbell was in a position of leadership, he would clean up the rampant corruption in the country.Who is Mr. Terrence Campbell? Mr. Campbell is the owner of Camex Restaurants Inc, the franchise owner of Church’s Chicken, Mario’s Pizza, Dairy Queen and Pollo Tropical Restaurants in Guyana.
Although I have eaten in several of his restaurants and heard the name, I never knew who he was until the City Hall’s Commission of Inquiry.
His courage to testify at the COI, and his reluctance and refusal to pay bribes to City Hall is unheard of, unusual, inspiring and outstanding.
By refusing to pay bribes, Mr. Campbell shows that he is willing to take a financial loss than to go against his principles and integrity. How many businessmen and women in Guyana are willing to do that? By refusing to pay bribes, Mr. Campbell is demonstrating that his integrity is more important than making money. Oh, how I wish that there were more businessmen and women like Mr. Campbell in the country. Men and women who placed principles over money.
What also impressed me about Mr. Campbell is that he seems to be a contented man. Contentment is a rare virtue in Guyana. Greed is the overwhelming drive of the citizenry. To them, “Greed is good.”
Mr. Campbell’s incredible strength, durability and resolve have helped his business to succeed despite the rampant corruption, mismanagement and bribery in the country.
Yours faithfully,
Anthony Pantlitz
