BEEPATS Company on Saturday commissioned a brand new US$8.5M warehouse at Denis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown. The warehouse, reputedly the largest such facility in Guyana, measures 75,400 square-feet, and will facilitate the timely receipt and delivery of goods.
This new warehouse replaces the company’s old one at Ogle, on the lower East Coast, which was destroyed by fire back in 2013.
Kristofer Beepat, a company representative, said for the past 50 years, the company has had non-stop delivery service to Berbice, Essequibo, Linden, Bartica, East and West Coast Demerara and the East Bank Demerara and Georgetown.
However, since the October 2013 fire, the company has experienced great travails, as they had to rent warehouse space, a task that proved quite expensive.
“It was with this in mind, and looking to the next 50 years, that it was decided to build this new warehouse,” Beepat said.
The new facility, he said, allows for the offloading of a 40-ft container within half an hour, as opposed to approximately six hours at the company’s Regent Street store and other warehouses.
“It is also hoped that, once the kinks have been ironed out, orders taken for goods in the administration building will be sent electronically to the warehouse, and by the time the customer has paid for the goods, they will be ready for delivery,” he added.
Acting President, Moses Nagamootoo, who officiated at the opening ceremony, congratulated the Beepats for their unwavering commitment to investing in Guyana.
He told the gathering at the simple commissioning ceremony: “Sophia is an area that is a maiden spot for business,” and that there is “a reservoir of labour” to be tapped into in that community. “I am glad that business people have decided to open business here,” he said.
He noted that government will create an “even playing field,” since “there is room for retail business; room to supply the network of all the businesses…and open competition.”
The new warehouse comes fully equipped with modern facilities for storage, handling, and inventory control systems.
Pre-engineered by Allied Steel Buildings, it sits on three acres of land, two-and-a-half of which is dedicated to the warehouse proper, while the remaining half-acre is being used to house the administrative building, vehicle workshop and parking area.
The main building is complete, and support facilities should be fully functional before year-end.
The company got its financing from Demerara Bank and Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited.