Deported but not out - Guyard Silverd - The ultimate Hot Dog King in St Bess sets his sights on local franchise by year end
Published:Saturday | July 23, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Andre Gordon, Gleaner Writer
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth:"I WASN'T going to run the risk of losing my freedom again, so I decided to stay in Jamaica this time," said Guyard Silverd who was deported from the United States of America (USA) for the third time, four years ago.
Silverd spent 10 years in prison on drug-related charges. "Once you have your money you can always go back, and I did that on two occasions, but this time I went to prison at 38, and when I came out, I was almost 50, so I decided I did not want to lose any more time, I had to do something," he related.
Silverd was born in Jones Town, Kingston, but never knew life as an adult in Jamaica. He left at age 14 to join his parents in the USA where he attended Howard Taft High in the Bronx, New York. Upon graduation, he was employed in the air condition maintenance business as a duct worker, and worked as a restaurant manager in the fast-food industry.
"I was always surrounded by the game (drug business). Growing up in the Bronx, it was hard to not be involved, and in my case, my father was involved in it, (so) I just naturally became a part of it. I can remember being kidnapped and shot at age 19, because people wanted me to take them to my father's house."
Silverd had a hard time growing up. he told The Gleaner team that he was in and out of jail a total of 10 times for minor felonies, and went to prison three times on major drug charges, each of which resulted in deportation.
In 2007 when Silverd returned to Jamaica for the third time, he decided to make a turn around.
"I started out selling clothes and when that didn't work, I tried the taxi business. Many times I even cut my neighbour's yard so that I could eat an honest meal,".
Growing up Silverd had learnt the hot dog business from his mother who has been a vendor in New York for the past 30 years.
"My mom sent the first hot-dog cart to me just over a year ago and I decided to make the best of it. Twelve months after the first hot-dog cart arrived in Santa Cruz, Silverd has become the talk of the town. On a regular day, scores of customers can be seen at his cart waiting for a chance to bite into his delicious hot-dogs. It is felt in many quarters that the arrival of the hot-dog cart has led to a decline in patronage at other fast-food establishments in the parish.
Unlike many other businesses from across Jamaica that have been feeling the pinch of the global recession, the hot-dog business has been bearing fruits of success for Silverd who has expanded his business by adding two more carts and employs five people to operate them. One cart operates on a 24-hour basis.
"While my mom sent the first cart for me, I saved enough money to buy the second and third carts, and more carts are on the way. I intend to place carts in Junction, Black River and Mandeville by year end," he told The Gleaner.
"I am in the second phase of a five-phase programme right now. By the time I am finished, I hope to see over 300 carts right across Jamaica, and I intend to start a franchise for hot-dog toppings. In fact, I am in the process of registering the name of my franchise," said Silverd.