The Caribbean Corner at 141 Western Main Road in St James will be officially opened by Dr Andre Henry, Director of Trade of the Tourism and Industrial Development Company, on Friday January 21, 2000. Behind the bright blue wall, a source of wonder for the past six months to thousands of commuters who wait at the traffic light at the corner of Luckput Street and the Western Main Road, Member of Parliament, Ken Valley, has sought to bring to life a concept showcasing a variety of Caribbean activities.
The Caribbean Shoppe, situated at the front of the building, sells a large number of gourmet food products, drink, arts and craft from Jamaica, Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia and other Caribbean regions; and herbal products made by Dr Gordon Chang's Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals of Ontario, Canada. "The fruit for Omega's best seller, Noni, comes from Guyana, which made a connection with my Caribbean Shoppe, and the manufacturer is a Trinidadian, a Caribbean person" says Valley, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, who sees his Caribbean Corner as "the place where visitors can get a taste of Caribbean culture any day or night of the week." The Shoppe has been in operation since January 1998, but the kitchen, outside liming area, bar and dining room, will all be open for business from January 22.
"We are looking to the more mature group who need to have a vintage calypso night, a Latin night, a Jamaican week-end, or a night of Guyanese pepperpot, and as we go along could be even a Grenada week" says Valley, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, who brings his experience from that position to this new venture.