THE Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) has commenced its new year operations with a firm commitment to build on the achievements of the past year and upgrade the leadership, organisational and data accumulation skills of members, so it could provide even better service to the membership and residents within its boundaries. The newly elected executive committee outlined those objectives during the annual general meeting (AGM), at Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice, earlier this month.

The catchment area of the UCCI spans Orealla on the East and Tarolgie, both in Corentyne and New Amsterdam to the West.
Prior to the elections, the outgoing President, Mr. Vishnu Doerga reported several successes for the year just ended, including:

** the planning and execution of the second Orealla Regatta, in collaboration with Cortours;

** the continuation of the highly informative UCCI TV show;

** the creation of a webpage hosted on facebook.com for wider coverage of UCCI’s activities;

**  the achievement of council membership of the Private Sector Commission, courtesy of Republic Bank;

** signatory to the Georgetown Chamber Code of Conduct;

** attendance and participation in the entrepreneurial trade fair hosted in Boa Vista, Brazil, by SEBRAE,  the Brazilian
Service of Support for micro and small enterprises that encourages Brazil’s entrepreneurship and development, and

** conduct of a blood drive campaign among members, which garnered a total of 15 units for the Berbice Blood Bank.

Doerga said the UCCI is also proud to have been involved in an inaugural membership certification informal event, at which the main guest was Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad and represented at a quarterly general meeting and cocktail with the President and executives of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).

Doerga said he also delivered an address at Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre’s launch of a new heavy duty operators course and made a similar presentation to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC)/Public Service Commission(PSC) on Strategic Involvement of the private sector in Governance for National Change.

Doerga was re-elected President of the UCCI and other executives are K. Jaichand (Vice-President), P. Kowlessar (Secretary), H.D. Ganess (Treasurer), S. Ramnauth (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer) and  G. Gangadin, H. Narain, I Badruddin, A. Subanuth, M. Persaud, K. Dudnauth, A. Yakub and G. Mahadeo, committee members.

Doerga said, in 2011, the UCCI will ensure that the organisation remains a vibrant and  capable partner to all organisations involved in Guyana’s development; encourage more businesses within its catchment area to be involved with its work and be a part of the solution instead of being uncommitted spectators. (Clifford Stanley)