–over 180 exhibitors confirmed, new parking arrangements, strict safety measures announced

PRESIDENT of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), Poonai Bhigroog has confirmed that this year’s Berbice ‘Expo’ promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition yet, with all exhibition spaces fully booked, and major improvements implemented for the comfort and safety of patrons.

The ‘expo’ will officially open its doors this afternoon, and run until Monday evening at the Rose Hall Community Centre Ground in East Canje Berbice.

“Presently, we have 180 exhibitors on board, as we are seeing here today, and I want to tell those who want to make the last minute to exhibit, there is no space; we cannot accommodate anyone. So, this year’s ‘expo’ is going to be even more exciting than previous years,” Mr. Bhigroog stated.

When this publication visited the venue on Wednesday, preparations were in full swing. Exhibitors were setting up their booths ahead of the opening.

“As you can see to my left, which should be your right, we have these exhibitors; they’re already setting up their booths. We have all the beverage companies; we have Suri, who was here last year with a lot of giveaways,” the CCCC president told this publication.

One of the key logistical improvements this year is expanded parking.

“I want to update you also about a very important thing, because one of the issues that we normally get at Canje is parking. So, this year, GuySuCo has given us some restriction to an extent, but [for] public parking when you come to Canje Ground, you can just drive a little bit; just a little bit up where the guest house is, and there is adequate parking for quite a number; a few hundred vehicles parking. So if you’re coming into the ground and you see it’s kind of a little bit busy, don’t be worried, you just drive up a little bit, and there will be people to direct you where there will be free parking, and there will be security there to look after some of your interests in terms of the parking,” Mr. Bhigroog said.

He noted that many exhibitors are working late into the night to complete their setups.

“Well, as you can see,” he said, “most people; quite a few are nearly already setting up. Tomorrow, you come here tomorrow, the same thing, a hive of activity. People will work late into the night, because, fortunately, we have floodlights here at Canje. So those coming from far, we have exhibitors from Georgetown and further afield; you can work late into the night. And our guys in the ground, I mean, we’ve been doing this for 19 years. The electrician has been with us probably for the past 12–15 years, so it’s something like a routine now. So we are positive that our part, whatever we have to do, will be in place. So, anybody can come; your spots are already demarcated, you can now come right now, you know where you are, you just come and set up your booths.

SAFETY

Meanwhile, following concerns raised after last year’s event, the Chamber has put strong measures in place to ensure a safer environment.

“Well, the system is that we have met with all the beverage companies who normally sell beverages and also the food vendors. And it’s a strict, very, very, very strict contract we’ve signed with them that glass bottle is being prohibited on the ground. Right, so if the beverage company do bring bottles to the ground, they have to pour it out into cups,” Bhigroog said.

He acknowledged that in past years, a few individuals still managed to bring in glass bottles. He then made a direct appeal to patrons.

“This is a cricket ground, and this is an appeal I’m appealing to our patrons, to the public, please don’t encourage those people who are not going to pour something out of bottles and give you. Don’t support their business please. Plenty people know us, so they will come and always report to us. There’ll be the police there; members of the Chamber would be around, so you can always report to us. But we are very, very stricken that you could be thrown out of the ‘expo’ if you’re guilty of having bottles; selling a bottle. And we are asking the public to be our eye and ear in this particular activity for the bottles not to be in the ground.”

Further, when asked why this year’s ‘Expo’ holds greater significance, Bhigroog pointed to the rapid transformation of the Berbice region. “Well, as you know, with the new-found oil in Guyana right now, Berbice is going places. I mean, there’s a lot of development happening in Berbice. I mean, if we start from Palmyra, recently, we had a minister opening a new housing scheme on East Bank; a $7 billion project. We have the Exxon oil-and-gas school, which is near completion in a year or two. We have the hospitality institute underway, we have the new four-lane road. So, we have to be prepared. I mean, we have to be prepared. We want people, we want business to come and showcase, to tell the public what’s going on. We don’t want people to be left behind. So we are paying a lot of emphasis on making this expo more, more, more.”

The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce has hosted the ‘expo’ for 19 years, and this year’s edition is being described as the most anticipated yet as it will be a reflection of Berbice’s growing role in Guyana’s development story and the Chamber’s continued commitment to promoting local business and community engagement.