When COVID hit, private chef Anthony Dacres lost all his clients. Not one to stay down for long, he pivoted into marketing and began running a marketing agency for restaurants. Over time, his ambitions grew beyond what Jamaica could contain, and he decided it was time to travel the world and explore new opportunities abroad.
Inspired in part by watching our Jamaicans to the World videos, Anthony made a list of countries he could enter visa-free or with visa on arrival. Suriname was on that list. He started making calls and, in the process, found not just a job but a new home.
In this episode of Jamaicans Doing Business Abroad, Xavier Murphy speaks with Chef Dacres, who shares his journey of moving abroad and opening Pot Cova, Suriname’s first Jamaican restaurant.
From Track Dreams to the Kitchen
Anthony grew up in St. Thomas, Jamaica, and attended Jamaica College, where his early ambitions centred on becoming a track athlete. However, an accident in 2012 brought those dreams to an abrupt end. As his academic performance began to slip and his future grew uncertain, his mother made a decisive move and enrolled him in culinary school.
Though cooking was never part of the original plan, it quickly became a pathway to purpose. Anthony excelled in the kitchen, eventually becoming a private chef working across the island.
When the pandemic disrupted his work, he chose not to wait for opportunities to come to him. After securing work at a restaurant in Paramaribo, he relocated, a move that would change everything. After spending three years working in Suriname, Anthony took a leap of faith and opened Pot Cova, introducing Jamaican cuisine to a new region.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Pot Cova Restaurant (@potcovaja)
Opening the restaurant was far from easy. Navigating bureaucracy, inspections, and language barriers required patience and persistence. But the response has been overwhelmingly positive. As the only Jamaican restaurant in the country, Pot Cova has attracted locals eager to try jerk chicken, fried dumplings, and festival — many encountering Jamaican food for the first time.
Life and Opportunities in Suriname
Anthony describes Suriname as a place best suited for those seeking a slower pace and stability rather than fast money. The cost of living is relatively affordable, housing is accessible, and daily life is manageable once expectations are aligned.
While language remains a challenge, the cultural diversity, safety, and sense of calm have made Suriname a comfortable place to call home.
Anthony’s message to Jamaicans considering living or working in Suriname is simple: do not wait for opportunities to come to you. Create them. Whether in Suriname or elsewhere, he encourages young people in particular to explore, plan intentionally, and take calculated risks.
Sometimes, the biggest moves start with a list, a little research, and the courage to try.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Anthony Dacres (@chefdacres)
Watch more episodes of Jamaicans to the World and Jamaicans Doing Business Abroad on our YouTube channel — and don’t forget to subscribe and share the videos. Want to be featured in a future episode? Email us at info@jamaicans.com.
