Pan chicken vendor Rodney Bent (left) says thanks to Jacqueline Robotham, business representative and sales adviser, Jamaica National Building Society for Papine and UWI branches, after she disclosed that she would open an account for him. - Contributed

Rodney Bent, Pan Chicken Championship finalist for 2013, last Wednesday encouraged his fellow micro-entrepreneurs to "have faith" and not give up on their dreams of becoming successful business people.

He was addressing a seminar at the St Andrew Parish Church Hall in Half-Way Tree.

Bent related his experience as a pan chicken vendor at the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), CB Chicken and Social Development Commission (SDC) Financial Entrepreneurial Seminar, held under the theme, Facilitating Sustainable Economic Development, recently.

Workshop series

This was the final in a series of three workshops for participants in this year's competition. The first two were held in Mandeville and Montego Bay on October 22 and 29.

"When you start, there will be many days that you will not see any results, but you have to have faith," said Bent.

Just two chickens

In his testimony, which drew several rounds of applause, Bent said he started out with just two chickens after watching other jerk chicken vendors prepare their meals.

"On the first night, I only sold two pieces of chicken out of the eight quarters I had brought. On many nights it rained; and cars would pass and splash me, but I still went out there. I got a tarpaulin for cover and continued working," he maintained.

Bent's faith has been rewarded with his acquisition of a house, and he is able to send his daughter to school, as well as, assisting a nephew and niece with their studies overseas.

In commending Bent, Jacqueline Robotham, business relationship & sales adviser at JNBS, said she would open a JNBS account for the pan chicken vendor in a bid for him to realise his other dreams.

Alicia Bogues, brand manager for CB Foods, said her company was committed to giving pan chicken vendors as much exposure and assistance as possible to grow their operations.