President David Granger is expected to declare open the twelfth annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair at the Albion Sports Complex this evening. The Expo will go until Monday.
This year, the event is being held under the theme ‘Promoting Entrepreneurship for a Diversified Economy’ and is a collaborative effort between the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and the Business Ministry.
Coordinator of the event, Tajpaul Adjodhea, says more than one hundred exhibitors will be on show. “I am very pleased that we have about 25 first-time craft exhibitors,” Adjodhea said, noting that there are a variety of exhibitors and the main auditorium is fully booked. “They range from banking, insurance, and Government agencies. We have [National Insurance Scheme] NIS, [Guyana Revenue Authority] GRA, the Guyana Tourism Authority; the Ministry of Agriculture is here in a big way. We have a number of craft producers on display this year.”
Meanwhile, two private security services have been booked to provide security inside the arena. The Guyana Police Force will also be on hand to provide security; both at the exposition and in the vicinity of the Albion Spots Complex.
Nightly there will be a live band and cultural performances. According to Adjodhea, when the first Berbice Expo was held 11 years ago, the entrance fee was 0 for adults and 0 for children and that has not changed.
Tickets for the event are currently available at Imran and Sons, Poonai’s Pharmacy, and Imran and Daughters in Rose Hall; Shell Service Station and A Ally and Sons in New Amsterdam and Dhanan’s Gas Station DeEdward, West Coast Berbice.
Gates will be opened from 15:00h daily and are scheduled to close at 23:30h nightly.
Among the sponsors for the Expo are Digicel, the Business Ministry, ANSA McAL Trading, Comfort Sleep and Republic Bank. (Andrew Carmichael)
