THE ANSA McAL Group of Companies, to mark its twentieth anniversary, recently handed over a 10-foot by 10-foot benab to the Number 63 Beach Committee. The gesture was in an effort to improve facilities at one of the tourist destinations in Berbice, and Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh accepted the $700,000 donation on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism.

He appealed to corporate Guyana to become involved in enhancing the seashore, which can be branded with their respective companies’ logos and products.

“Additionally, organising activities which have a regional interest, such as a Beach Volleyball Competition, will allow the Number 63 Beach to create a name for itself,” Haralsingh pointed out.

Speaking at the Wednesday ceremony, he observed that while the Beach Committee made painstaking efforts to equip the seashore with amenities, some people are bent on vandalising those facilities.

“We would like to have flush toilets, but there were such facilities years ago, but residents from nearby squatting communities removed them,” Haralsingh revealed.

Opportunities
However, he said that while the challenges were minimal, there are also opportunities for profitable and viable businesses to operate, such as a mobile shower and car wash, which can be available for events.

“Additionally, the Suriname Mullet can be caught, and persons from the rural area can embark on teaching their counterparts from the urban communities on how to throw a cast net, amongst other activities.” Haralsingh mentioned.

Earlier, Berbice Branch Manager of the donor, Mr. Mark Bichai, related that the company is undertaking several outreach programmes, especially in communities which supported the business over the last 20 years.

ANSA McAL started operating in Trinidad & Tobago in the early 1980s, and has since grown to over 50 companies in about eight economic sectors, which include Guyana, Grenada, Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis and the United States (U.S), making the enterprise one of the largest and most profitable conglomerates in the Western Hemisphere.

Its diversity spawns manufacturing, automotive, media, financial services (including merchant banking), distribution, beverages, services, construction and real estate development.

Throughout the Caribbean, Carib beer has become synonymous with ANSA McAL, as it is probably the best known product manufactured and distributed by the company.