Guyana Distillers Limited

Headed by President and Chairman Mr. Komal Samaroo, the management team of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has focused the Group on value-added brand development and diversification of its sources of revenue. With an operating profit of US $16.9 million in 2015 and listed assets of US $57.4 million, DDL has done well both at home and abroad. That goodwill is also redounding to the benefit of DDL’s community.

Attendant to this objective, the company’s sustainability is inextricably linked to its Shared Value principles in social responsibility. The company believes that as it prospers so should its communities. Its CSR focus is on the development of youth through education and sport. The company believes that it is critical to focus on building capacity among the youth to position the company to grow business and to position the country to respond to an increasingly complex and volatile global market space.

DDL has as part of its management structure, the DDL Foundation which manages its community investment, monitoring and reporting. Some of the DDL projects are run through strategic partnerships such as the University of Guyana and sporting bodies such as the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, the Cycling Federation, Cricket Board and the Guyana Hockey Board.

The signature CSR programme of the company is the DDL Foundation Scholarship programme which provides subsidies to students to cover transport, meals and books. An important feature of the programme is its mentorship dimension which sees the direct involvement of the company’s leadership. The programme currently engages 26 students and 26 company mentors. Each child is paired with a mentor who monitors the performance of the child and provides the necessary moral and other support during the period of their relationship with the Foundation.

Students are supported for five (5) years from entry into high school to form five. Following a public canvas through press advertisements, candidates from all over the country apply. A rigorous assessment looks at the most needy and most capable students and provides funding scholarships to ensure that they are able to stay in school and to perform well. Very often children come from female-run, single parent households.

Funding is done through a matching programme by the company. DDL staff raise funds through a number of staff activities such as lunches or cake sales. Corporate marketing initiatives also provide funding. For example, part proceeds from our 50th Anniversary Special Edition Rum sales went to the Foundation. Funding covers books and transport as well as meals in most instances. Additional funding for special circumstances is considered on a case by case basis.

The work of the DDL Foundation ensures that bright and promising youth are allowed to pursue an education especially where their social circumstances could prevent them from doing so. Beneficiaries are all nationals of Guyana regardless of race, religion or creed. In this way, DDL is ensuring that the country benefits from the best minds and talent through investment in the early stages of the education value chain. These students must satisfy criteria that demand high levels of continuous academic performance.

Poverty is a key factor in considering suitability for awards as the company sees this as the primary reason for investing in the programme. DDL believes that poverty presents obstacles to bright and capable students pursuing higher education and breaking the cycle. Therefore lack of financial resources is a primary consideration.

The programme relies heavily on volunteerism as a means of mentorship of awardees and is supported by an enthusiastic team of staff volunteers who provide mentorship to assigned awardees. They meet and review report cards, take them on supervised social events and advise them on matters of schooling and family life as necessary. Mentors contribute personal time. Because students are in school, interactions are reserved for weekends. The company ensures that a safety clause is duly signed as a security and protection measure as minors are involved. Mentors are not permitted to provide gifts of any kind, or money or to organize home visits. Visits must be in public space and accompanied.

DDL is keen to expand the programme through partnerships.

Business Profile

The Demerara Distillers Limited Company (DDL) is located at Plantation Diamond on the East Bank of the Demerara River in Guyana. An amalgam of some 300 estates dating back to 1670, the company which is wholly locally owned and operated, has maintained the standards and methods of this age-old industry through the centuries, and the unique original heritage stills and equipment have been preserved – “all operating in tandem with the most up to date production technology.”

Distinguished for its unrivalled bulk rum capacity, the distillery can produce in excess of 26 million litres of pure alcohol annually, and is the largest supplier of bulk rums and alcohols from the Caribbean to brand owners in Europe and North America with a clientele that includes companies such as Diageo, Jim Beam Brands, Hiram Walker, Allied Distillers, and Corby’s.

Committed to the protection of the environment and preservation of national history, the Company possesses its own CO2 plant, utilising the waste product from the distillery to produce piped liquefied gas for its aerated beverage plant, as well as cylinder gas for industrial use and dry ice for the fishing and frozen food industries.