Foreign investors offer over US$10M to develop Number 63 Beach

A group of foreign investors are proposing to spend more than US$10 million to develop the Number 63 Beach in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) in order to give the scores of tourists who flock there every year a better experience.
The investors are registered under the name BCD Number 63 Beach Investment with a Brooklyn, USA address. BCD Number 63 Beach Investment is a consortium of companies that wants to invest in a resort and entertainment hub at the beach.
The investors on Tuesday met with the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and discussed how to move forward with the initiative.
One of the investors is Kevin Thorpe – the Managing Director of Khonnor Glory Limited.
Another is Verman Badessee of the Badessee Distributors Corp, who says the investors are willing to spend an estimated US$10 million.
“We want full control of the beach where we would have between Numbers 57 to 64 Villages. We would clean the beach daily and maintain the beach. We are asking the Government to bring water and power to a certain point…,” he said.
In its proposal, BCD Number 63 Beach Investment sought to have the Government give a 100 per cent lease for the beach, to provide maps of boundaries for Suriname and Guyana and to fix roads to certain points.
It is also proposing that Government bring in water to a certain point and install lights at certain points while at the same time providing a budget for some solar lighting.

BCD is also proposing that Government approve a Beach Patrol for security and enforcement and also approve the setting-up of a garbage dumpsite for recycling.
While the beach runs along several villages on the Corentyne Coast, it is more accessible at Numbers 62 and 63 Villages making those areas more popular.
Badessee said apart from Government giving the prime part of the beach to the consortium, they also wanted to enter into an arrangement with Government that would ensure restrictions were in place forbidding others to do any building or development on other sections of the beach.
Chamber President Mohamed Rafeek said the organisation was going to take the proposal to government.
Meanwhile, First Lady Arya Ali has included the Number 63 Beach as part of her National Beautification Project and has already commenced constructing a children’s playpark there which, when completed, would be equipped with all the necessary amenities and washroom facilities.
When asked about this as it is within the area the consortium wants given to them, Badessee played down the efforts being made by the First Lady.
Only recently, the Corentyne Chamber had called on Central Government to help the 52/74 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) manage the beach, noting that the NDC did not have sufficient resources to do so. (G4)