Overseas-based group in US10M investment pitch for No.63 beach

Apr 29, 2022 News

– proposes full takeover to build resort, entertainment centre

By Malisa Playter

Some of the investors meeting with Corentyne Chamber of Commerce officials

Kaieteur News – A group of overseas-based businessmen have signalled their intention to invest millions into the restoration and enhancement of the No.63 Beach located on the Upper Corentyne.

Verman Bedessee, Chairman of the Bedessee Group of Companies

Two of the intended investors, Mr. Verman Bedessee, Chairman of the Bedessee Group of Companies and Kevin Thorpe, Managing Director at Khonner Glory Ltd., met with the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday to discuss their proposal.
Bedessee who has companies in the United States and Canada said that there are four groups of intended investors together with himself, interested in making the project a reality with an estimated initial investment of US$10 Million. However, for this to happen, they are proposing a 100% lease to the beach stretching from No.57 to No.64 Villages.
In a proposal seen by this publication, the businessmen are also proposing that the government of Guyana provides maps of boundaries for Suriname and Guyana, maps of sea defence reserves and privately-owned lands. They are also asking the government to fix roads “to a certain extent”, install lighting “at certain points”, provide a budget for solar lighting, approve a dumpsite, approve an incinerator and approve the collection of tolls for any automobile, motorcycle, cars, vans, trucks, trailers and tractors. Pedestrians walking in and cyclists will be exempted from paying the toll.
According to Bedessee, the aim is to “bring it to a modernised American style beach, clean it up etc. No.63 beach is one of the biggest beaches that have been unattended since I left Guyana, so it’s long overdue to have a good beach to go on. ”He stated that, investors are willing to spend their money to bring the beach up to the standard of “American and Canadian beaches.”
“We have multiple investors that will do various things, we have four groups of investors that have hundreds of millions of US dollars, but it depends on which one the government is going to give us in the sense of exclusiveness to the beach”, Bedessee said. With regards to wanting exclusivity to the beach, Bedessee reasoned that, “if we don’t have exclusiveness how can we invest that money, the government is not paying for anything so we have to make money from what we put into there at the beach if it’s restaurants and accommodations, so whatever we put in there, that pays back for the renovations of the beach to bring it up to scale, and then to maintain the beach, cleaning, security, solar, 24 hrs. a day, when the water comes up you don’t have to leave, we are looking to maintain the beach throughout the night, you can leave when you please.“
The investors, if granted the opportunity, want to construct parking lots, a children’s playground, a garden for décor, a wooden/concrete boardwalk, lifeguard stations, CCTV monitoring, hotels, restaurants and an entertainment area among other things. The revenues they said will be generated from toll booths that will be placed at strategic points, from accommodations, the restaurants, shows and events, rental spots, gift shops, swimwear and beach amenities outlets along with a fun park and vehicle towing service for when vehicles get stuck in the sand.
In September of last year, the First Lady of Guyana Arya Ali, through her National Beautification Project visited the No.63 Beach entrance and earmarked a section to be converted into a space for parking, a play area for children, vending space, washroom facilities and more. The 300 by 300 piece of land was cleared but since then, there has been no work done on the area.
Bedessee however, is saying that such a project will not be in the way of what they are proposing, he said, “whatever I saw in the little picture was just a little diagram, it’s just a little tiny, I’m guessing 300 or 500 ft., but we are talking the entire beach. That project with the First Lady is okay, we are not taking exclusive on that, whatever they are doing as a government is fine but if we are to go further, nothing has to come from them that will remain there, everything new has to come through us.”
The businessman said that while he has made efforts in the past (2018-2020) to engage officials about the proposed project, there has been no positive outcome. He added that he met with several members of parliament, the Minister responsible for Tourism and regional officials of Region Six under the previous administration but there was “no response in a positive way.” He added that through Gobin Harbhajan, a community and animal rights activist, the meeting with the CCCC was possible.
Besides, the enhancement of the beach, Bedessee said they are also looking at four other locations for the purpose of eco-tourism with one of those areas being Orealla. He added that “once we get from the government, the blueprint plans of the length, width and area that we are gonna be taking care of where we can build or not build where the roads are, that has to be the first stage.” He said when that is provided, their engineer will be sent to measure the space and a draft will be put in place to kickstart the project within three to six months.
Meanwhile, a No.63 beach management committee is expected to be established soon. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond during a recent visit to Berbice, had tasked the Regional Democratic Council to partner with the relevant stakeholders to establish the committee and to conduct immediate works on the beach.