Management of Number 63 Beach, under-age sex targeted
THE Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) received a grant of US$28,386, on Wednesday, from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
It is for improving the management and operations of the Number 63 Beach and tackling the issue of under-age sexual activity among school-aged children.
The monetary donation was made possible through the USAID Governance  Enhancement Project (GEP) and was handed over in the Chamber’s Office, at Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice, by USAID  Guyana Mission Director, Ms. Carol Horning.
Speaking at the midday ceremony, she pointed out that, while the grant provides an opportunity for the UCCCI to address the  two major concerns of the East Berbice/Corentyne location, it is important that children and families are protected, even as employment and other opportunities are generated in the region.
Horning said the beneficiary was selected because of its excellent presentation of the problems to be addressed. The non-governmental organisation (NGO) is among similar groups, such as Youth Challenge and Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, which have benefited similarly.
According to her, prior to the delivery of the monetary award, the UCCCI was involved in six months of training and technical assistance in advanced participatory methods, leadership and negotiation, data collection, research and issue identification, communication strategy, development and media tactics.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dickson Bailey, GEP Chief of Party, who chaired the 50-minute ceremony and was a signatory to the award, said the Chamber, which has four months to accomplish its plans for the respective projects, was the first of three NGOs to be awarded.
President of UCCCI, Mr. Vishnu Doerga, expressed sincere thanks to the USAID GEP for the training and technical assistance received over the past months to build capacity.
He said the UCCCI was chosen from 20 groups, following a competitive process, to participate in the GEP’s Civil Society Enhancement Initiative (CSEI).
The UCCI was founded in 1970 as the main private sector body in Upper Corentyne and continues to be the leading organisation representing the interest of the private sector and all citizens in the region.