Owners of Future Scholars Childcare and Pre-school in Ocho Rios, St Ann, young couple, Andre and Terrie-Ann Mesquita, were hoping to enjoy themselves as much as they could on their vacation to Panama City in February 2021.

However, as fate would have it, their vacation was interrupted by an unfortunate event that, through their entrepreneurial instinct, they somehow managed to flip and turn into something really positive.

The result saw the opening of Yahh Man Jamaican Restaurant, what is believed to be the first authentic Jamaican restaurant in Panama City, on May 5 this year.

Located at El Carmen PH Rainbow Tower, the restaurant serves typical Jamaican dishes, such as jerked chicken, curried chicken, brown stewed chicken, stewed beef, fried chicken, oxtail, fish, festival, ackee and salted codfish, burgers, hot dog, among other items.

Their target market includes the many Jamaicans who arrive on the 10 flights per week from Jamaica, retired Americans living in Panama City who want a taste of Caribbean food, and to every Panamanian and whoever else might wish to dine.

Andre told The Gleaner that while they were on vacation they got sick from eating food they were served.

“They don’t use much seasoning and we were not used to their type of cooking so I said to my wife, ‘I can bet more persons who came here on vacation are suffering from this same thing’,” he recalled.

Then the idea struck him.

“I said to her, ‘A Jamaican restaurant would be great here in Panama!’ So, we decided that we were going to open an authentic Jamaican restaurant in Panama City.”

Now just over three years later, the dream has been realised and the feedback from customers has been terrific.

“Customer are saying that they have been waiting years for something like this. Restaurants are here that cook Jamaican food, but this is a different level of cooking and taste. Also, retired citizens from America are saying they have never tasted oxtail like this before. To God be the glory, everyone that eat our food give use 10 out of 10 and we have served many plates already.”

Andre, a chef, leads the team and also manages the restaurant. Terrie-Ann is back in Jamaica ensuring that Future Scholars has a bright future.

Of course, there were setbacks on the way to getting the restaurant up and running but their faith in God kept the couple going.

“The journey was a rough one, a lot of setbacks and disappointments. However, God open doors and shut lions’ mouths to set me free,” Andre said.