By Cindy Parkinson

MOTIVATED by the development of Guyana’s economy, the proprietor of the Sheriff Group of Companies, Ameir Ahmad, has donated $2 million to assist with the erection of a building to house the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association.
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Ahmad explained that his interest in wanting to better the lives of people and his nation is beyond what he had imagined for himself. According to him, it is no longer a job, but a passion for what he does.
“Anyone can write a cheque and make a donation towards a cause, but for me now, I am happy knowing that these contributions are making an impact in people’s lives. Berbice needs a chamber, an actual building to conduct their businesses in a more efficient manner. I thought that since our company (Sheriff) is building a mall in the region [Region Six] from which many small businesses and people will benefit, it was a no-brainer. One of the main reasons why we donated the money was to also ensure that the chamber has sufficient funds to take care of their business, move forward, and, like [sic] I said, build a proper facility to accommodate that,” he explained.

With the magnitude of development that is anticipated in Berbice for the next five years, Ahmad noted that the new facility is a timely and much-needed one.
“In a matter of five years, Berbice will be one of the regions that will be on the rise, and we need to ensure that every aspect of business is covered, so that no one has to travel to Georgetown to conduct business. Wherever we invest, no matter which community, the aim is to ensure that people benefit in some way, and that is what we are doing here. I also joined the chamber to ensure I play a continuous role in lending my support towards moving it in the right direction. Considering the type of investments that we are making in Berbice and the investments to come, it makes it a whole lot better knowing that there is an actual chamber in the region,” he added.
At the “Brunching with Bosses” event that was held on November 26 at Number 16 Village, the Berbice Chamber of Commerce honoured Ahmad for his contributions to the development of the region.

The Chamber’s President, Samantha Reid, told the Guyana Chronicle that the Sheriff Group of Companies plays a significant role in providing job opportunities for the people of Region Six.

For this reason, she said they were thrilled to honour the businessman at the event.
“The Sheriff Group, as we all know, has been making a lot of investments in our region, especially in the Palmyra area. They will be bringing a hospital, and we have already had the sod-turning for the first mall. Considering the people of the region and the unemployment rate, we honour the Sheriff because they are creating more jobs for the people. We cannot depend on government alone, and they have proven themselves. Their contributions to the region have been exceptional and we recognise and honour them,” Reid explained.
She also related that they are grateful to Ahmad and the Sheriff Group for their $2 million donation.

“Under my leadership at the chamber, I gave myself a mandate before I leave office. I want to at least start a building for the chamber. I want to make a hub not only where the chamber will be housed, but where small businesses will have training done for them. They can come and do research and get information, as well as conducting seminars,” she said.
Further, she told this publication that the money “will be going directly towards the funding for the building, along with other contributions from corporate sponsors.”
She said that fund-raisers are also being done.

“We want to say thank you to Ameir and the entire Sheriff Group for their continued contributions to Region Six,” Reid added.