[Interview Co-ordinated by Pascal Pinto]

Personal Profile

Lawrence D`Souza, hailing from Shirva – Majebettu (Pilar)
Wife: Anne D`souza
Children: 3 boys and 1 girl

A leading and successful businessman hailing from Shriva - Majebettu / Pilar, a dedicated, kind-hearted and very helpful personality in Kuwait the Managing Director of Caesers Group is none other than
Lawrence D`Souza.

Born on 11th May 1936 in Shirva Majebettu Pilar to the late Simon and Remedia D'Souza, he did his schooling at Shirva and then continued his studies at St. Aloysius - Mangalore. Married to Anne he is blessed with 3 sons and a daughter. One of his sons is a doctor and others are well settled.  Even though he does not attend any public functions, he is a great supporter of many associations without considering the caste, creed or religion. Always ready to help the people in need and never returns anyone empty handed. He says "If you do a good work to others then it is like a prayer and a bad word is like a curse".   

We are proud that a Mangalorean has owned such a big business in the Middle East.   Where did you get this inspiration from?

When I came to Kuwait I started a Trading business and then it was at a loss and I dropped the idea of business. I was in the air force from 1962 to 1975. At that time my present partner Ghazi Yousef Al Abdul Razzak a very noble and highly educated Kuwaiti kept insisting that we set up a business in Kuwait. I was least interested and at last after much persistent from him I decided to establish a business in restaurants as there were no restaurants in Kuwait except for the Maxim restaurant. In 1972 we started building our restaurant and in the year 1973 our first outlet was established in Salmiya. Within a short span of 3 years we had 4 restaurants to our credit. From 1973 till invasion we had 16 restaurants & Confectionaries all over Kuwait. Now we have 22 restaurants and confectionary throughout Kuwait and 12 in UAE. As soon as I left the air force in 1975 we also have another company called Ajwan Trading Enterprise. We also have Al Afrah Al Sharqiya Gen. Trading & Contracting Co.

When did you start your venture in Travel Business?

After invasion in 1993 we started our first travel agency in Kuwait City and now we have 4 branches in Fahaheel, Abassiya, City & Salmiya.

Could you please brief us about your UAE operation?

We have total 12 outlets in UAE and 2 in Bahrain.  In Dubai Robert D’sa is running the whole show who is very efficient and so I do not have to take any headache about the Dubai operation. Only at times we guide him.

Lawrence with Wilson

We have heard that there were outlets in Bangalore and USA. Are these still in operation?

There are 2 outlets in USA which are leased to a company called “Garden Fresh” but these are given on lease and so we cannot take the credit for these. We get our lease money and a small percentage. We also had an outlet in Bangalore but because of some complications we had to shut it down.

We heard from your staff that you are very kind with them and the Caesar’s restaurant   staff are paid well comparing to the same field in the market. Do you take this credit as a part of social work or would like to share the profit with them?

I want to keep them happy.  A smile on their face is a blessing for me.&nbs