The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A major food retail/wholesale operator yesterday vowed to survive despite having to cut some employees’ hours, telling this newspaper: “I’ve already been to the grave and back”.

Phil Lightbourne, owner of Gladstone Road-based Phil’s Food Services, said: “People went me out because I have forced the market to bring their price down, so Bahamians can shop in Nassau.

“As long as I’m making a difference I’m going to stay in the business. I’m in for the long run. I have already been to the grave and back. I’m fighting people trying to force me out of it for their gain. I’m not going to give up. Im going to keep fighting to feed the Bahamian people.”

Mr Lightbourne, who employs some 75 persons, admitted that with a slowdown in business he had to place some employees on reduced hours.

“It is slow. We try not not cut them off. We try to give them one or two days. In some instances you have to let go; you have to maintain salary,” he said.

“That is the biggest thing in any business. Anyway, you can see where to cut if you have to. You can’t pay the same thing once VAT comes on stream.”

Mr Lightbourne said that many businesses will ultimately reduce their employee count as they adjust to Value-Added Tax (VAT).

Several Tribune Business sources suggested that Phil’s Food Services appeared to have experienced a significant drop in business since the peak that followed its launch several years ago.

“Just driving by, it appears that there’s a lot less business than there was,” one source said.

“There isn’t the quantity of traffic that there used to be. Two to three years ago, cars used to be on the side of the road. Now, that parking lot is pretty empty.”

Mr Lightbourne added that securing Bahamian patronage remained a challenge in the food retail sector. “It is the most difficult thing in the world being a Bahamian and owning your own business,” he said.

“You get kicked down by Bahamians. Bahamians will support the Chinese stores quicker than they will support the Bahamian businesses. There are certain men of colour who think this belongs to them, and they will do whatever is in their power to keep you down. It’s been tough. I’m not in the business to see how much millions I can save. I’m in the business to make sure that Bahamians eat.”