Roopan delivers

Roopan Mahess is a small businessman with a mission to deliver on time. Only one week after he married Fazeela Khan at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, he was back on the road delivering chicken orders to restaurants. Roopan came to TT 15 years ago to join his parents Indarjit and Phoolkumarie Mahess, who came in search of a better life for him and six siblings. Roopan took up welding and with the money he earned he studied micro welding. However, welding jobs were hard to find and he worked as a labourer on a poultry farm but for seven years, his pay did not improve. When he sought an increase he was told instead to seek other employment as the company could not afford it.

After searching everywhere for a better job with no luck, he went into the chicken business. He began with 12 birds which he sold to homes in his Carapo village. He expanded and he began supplying bars and restaurants in nearby St Helena and Tunapuna. He also supplies many of the big restaurants in Trincity and Tunapuna. “When one is faced with rejection and disappointment, they really act as a stepping stone to success,” Roopan reflected. “It gives you a drive, a zeal to conquer. And I was determined to earn a good income and I was prepared to walk far and work long hours to reach my goal.”

In his trials to success, Roopan gave little thought to his personal life. “I wanted to gain enough financially before I could even think of courting a woman. I believe every man should think about being in a good financial position before getting married, since the man is considered the provider,” he said. He and his wife Fazeela had a fancy wedding last month. Roopan is also involved in the development of the Carapo Hindu Sabha (CHS) temple, where he is serving as the vice-president. “There is a lot more work to be done. I am hoping that we can complete the temple before the new year,” he said. Once that happens it will mean the completion of another dream, that of seeing the temple opened for the people of his village.