Robert 'Robbie' Hamaty
Caribbean Entrepreneurof the Year 2001 award, in the category of Tourism, Hospitalityand Entertainment is Cayman's own Mr. Robert 'Robbie' Hamaty,President and founder of Tortuga Rum Company Ltd. He was honouredas recipient of this prestigious award during a gala black tiebanquet at the Trinidad Hilton Conference Centre on 6 October.
This is the first time any individual or company from the CaymanIslands has received this prestigious award, regarded as one ofthe highest honours in the entire Caribbean business community.Organized by Ernst & Young, Republic Bank Ltd. and CIBC WestIndies Holdings Ltd.
The annual event bases its five awards on selections by an independentpanel of judges from nominations submitted by Caribbean businessleaders. Nominations include outstanding entrepreneurs in thecategories of Tourism & Hospitality; Manufacturing and FoodProcessing; Retail & Distribution, Service and Emerging Entrepreneur.
Each nominee must provide comprehensive details of his company'shistory, business strategy and accomplishments. Companies andindividuals cannot nominate themselves.
"Your innovative business strategy has captured the interestof our judges, who have selected you from among 41 nominees,"said Ernst & Young Director Ms. Angelia Persad "As partof the celebration of your entrepreneurial spirit and achievement,we will be profiling you and your business in the print and televisionmedia in our major participating countries, including Trinidad& Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada and Guyana."
The souvenir awards programme featured the following profile ofMr. Hamaty:
"Robert Hamaty says the idea to create Tortuga Rum Companycame to him when he discovered Bermuda's 'local' rum was actuallyproduced in Jamaica. He determined that the Cayman Islands, alsoa non-sugar producing country, should have its own unique rum.
The Tortuga Rum Company was started in 1984 with two rums, TortugaGold and Tortuga Light, blends of fine Jamaican and Barbadianspirits.
The first Tortuga Duty-Free Liquor store opened in 1987 and thecompany now operates 17 retail outlets on Grand Cayman; a Tortugastore in Key West, Florida, and franchises in the Bahamas, Barbadosand Jamaica.
It also operates three bakeries on Grand Cayman producing thenow-famous Tortuga Rum Cake, launched in 1987 and now the CaymanIslands top export, as well as one of the most recognisable souveniritems in the entire Caribbean."
In his acceptance speech at the awards ceremony, Mr. Hamaty thankedhis family, including his wife Carlene Jackson Hamaty; son Basiland daughter and son-in-law Monique and Marcus Simmonds, and citedtheir involvement in the company as an integral part of Tortuga'ssuccess story. He also thanked Mrs. Delrose Williams, GeneralManager, and the entire Tortuga Rum Company staff, saying that"without them none of this would have been possible."