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March 18, 2026
Jamel Sampson, the Trinidad and Tobago social media personality widely known as “Certified Sampson,” is expanding his growing ice cream brand into Guyana.
According to a release, Sampson has signed a lease to open a new location of Certified Scoop at TAJ Dream Ogle, a major mixed-use development currently under construction near Ogle International Airport in Georgetown. The store is expected to open in mid-2027 and will mark the brand’s third location overall, and its first outside Trinidad and Tobago.
“Guyana is one of the most exciting markets in the Caribbean right now,” Sampson said. “Opening Certified Scoop at TAJ Dream Ogle and purchasing my first condo in the development was an easy decision. I believe strongly in the future of Guyana, both for business and for real estate.”
Sampson has built a significant regional following through his digital content, with a combined audience of over four million followers across social media platforms. The Certified Sampson brand has become a recognisable name across the Caribbean, and his existing Certified Scoop locations in Trinidad have consistently attracted strong customer turnout, driven by both product quality and the brand’s entertainment-driven experience.
The Guyana location is expected to carry that same energy, blending premium ice cream with the personality of the brand. Beyond retail, the expansion also reflects a broader vision for the brand. The Certified Sampson team aims to bring its full roster of characters into the in-store identity, creating a dynamic and engaging environment while generating new employment opportunities within the local market.
“Certified Sampson is one of the most influential social media personalities in the Caribbean, and we are thrilled to welcome him to TAJ Dream Ogle,” said Giovanni Mola, one of the head developers for Coastal Rim Properties. He continued, “The fact that he is not only opening a business here but also purchasing a condo speaks volumes about the confidence regional entrepreneurs have in Guyana’s future.”
TAJ Dream Ogle is being developed by Coastal Rim Properties, a US-based firm that has completed over 6,000 homes and millions of square feet of commercial space since its founding in 1974. The project is being undertaken in partnership with former NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
The development is part of a wider surge in commercial and residential investment across Guyana, fuelled by rapid economic growth following major offshore oil discoveries. Increasingly, regional entrepreneurs are turning to the country as a key destination for expansion in both retail and real estate.
TAJ Dream Ogle is scheduled to open in mid-2027.
