By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Whatever way it may be looked at it is now certain that it has become a tradition for one of the oldest, renowned and well established business entities operating in the country, Pee Cee & Sons to offer Iftar to Muslims, who have been observing the Holy Month of Ramadan, through fasting, on what is commonly referred to as Pray Day which is Eid-Ul-Fitri, marking the end of the Holy Month of Fasting.
Pee Cee & Sons , on the 21st April, 2023 , out of the firm conviction that the period calls for making sacrifices and sharing, carried out its annual distribution of prepared foils or sachets of food items made out of the products that it markets, like its popular Padi products used in the preparation of the edible food containing bread, mayonnaise, sardines, water and other items, which were distributed or offered to thousands of Muslims and the less privileged at the National Stadium and in different locations within the city, where Muslims from various walks of life had earlier converged to say Eid prayers as well as in other parts of Freetown.
In the same light of sharing on the Day of Ramadan, plastic bags filled with provisions were also magnanimously offered to the organizers, Imams and winners of Islamic quiz competitions.
Moving with the company’s vans filled with the food items, young people wearing T-Shirts bearing the name of the company, Pee Cee & Sons were seen encouraging people to receive the offers with nice words being expressed.
Happy beneficiaries and recipients, beaming with smiles and expressing satisfaction, heaped profuse thanks and appreciation on Pee Cee and Sons for the gifts offered further expressing wishes that Allah or God Almighty will continue to provide for those behind the initiative, Management and for the business entity to continue to prosper and grow. Most underscored how they really appreciated the move made by the business entity in undertaking such a selfless offer to thousands of people, rich or poor, on such an important day more especially at this material time when things are economically and extremely difficult in the country.
They also prayed for the progress, sustainability and prosperity of the Management of Pee Cee & Sons further maintaining that the company has truly demonstrated that besides focusing only on trade with the aim of maximizing profit they must also foster a good relationship with members of the public, who are mainly their customers as well as to give back to society.
Though some have interpreted the move on the part of the company as using the occasion to advertise its products to many who went out to offer prayers, however, most saw it as one that was purely done out of humanitarian goodwill.
It must be noted that Pee Cee & Sons do not only limit such donations or offers to Pray Day or Eid-Ul-Fitri but also does so during important Christian holidays out of the spirit and belief that Sierra Leone is a religious tolerant country where people of both the Muslim and Christian faiths complement each other to grace certain occasions.
Some even called on the Government to continue to create a level playing field for the company to operate, adding that they will continue to support PC&S in every way they can.
It is important to note that apart from the fact that the company is upbeat in the timely honouring of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)), Pee Cee & Sons (PCS) is a private sector player whose roles in fostering development in Sierra Leone cannot be overemphasized and has particularly not gone unnoticed by citizens and the Government.
It is a fact that for decades now, PC&S has been doing business in this country. This private business enterprise has expanded the scope of its operations over the years during which period job opportunities have been provided and huge taxes paid to the Government which in turn is contributing to giving Government the financial muscle to fund different development programmes across the country.
Pee Cee and Sons is one of the most successful businesses in the country that has demonstrated true entrepreneurial skills and ingenuity to form linkages with the business community in the country in serving the local market.
Whilst other businesses are folding up due to the prevailing challenges in the current market, Pee Cee and Sons is highly regarded and exceptionally professional in serving its numerous customers with high quality goods and services.
Petty traders and other business-oriented professionals acclaim Pee Cee and Sons for the continuous sustainability of its businesses across the country even at difficult moments in the country.
Marie Bob Kandeh, Chairlady of Petty Traders Association thinks very highly of PCS when she says: “To succeed in commerce, you need three things: demand products to sell, the skills to market them, and the drive to succeed.” She adds that Pee Cee and Sons has all of these, the reason why it is successful and sustainable.
As a household name in the three countries of the Mano River Union (MRU), PCS has a vertically-integrated set up whereby it handles everything from procurement, import logistics, clearing, warehousing, distribution, and final sales to consumers in these countries.
It operates in all cities in the length and breadth of Sierra Leone where it serves the local population with its own integrated wholesale and retail distribution centers.
It is against such a backdrop that several State and Non-State actors are urging the Government to continue providing a safe and friendly business environment for entities like Pee Cee and Sons to operate to continue serving the people. “We can use Pee Cee and Sons as a practical model on how successful businesses should operate in Sierra Leone.” This is according to Mohamed J. Koroma of Marketers Association, adding that the Government of Sierra Leone can gain a lot if it promotes businesses like Pee Cee and Sons.
