THE Tourism Ministry, spearheading the Number 63 Beach Restoration Project in Region Six, has already crafted plans to improve facilities there, according to Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh.

Speaking to the media at the GTA Headquarters at Sophia, Greater Georgetown Friday, Haralsingh said Government was doing its part in ensuring the beach is made into a more advanced tourism hotspot.
He said that quite recently, a new management steering committee has been established with Mr. Derrick Cummings as head. Cummings represents the Tourism Ministry and heads the Small Business Bureau.
Other members of the committee comprise representatives from the Chambers of Commerce operating in East Berbice, including the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce; the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six; the Corriverton Town Council; the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA); the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Sea Defence Department, GuySuCo, and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).
He pointed out that one of the most crucial issues facing the committee is that of persons littering the beach and tarnishing its surroundings; and he said that a priority task needing urgent attention is that of encouraging persons to cease littering the place and, instead, carry trash bags in which to keep their garbage.
He conceded that getting patrons to stop littering is a great challenge for the Number 63 Beach Management Steering Committee.
Haralsingh said it would be useful if persons who use the beach are willing to cooperate and assist in maintaining its sanitation. He noted that when massive events are kept at the beach, food and beverage companies which take up places have a responsibility to ensure that they provide bags and bins for proper disposal of garbage, as they should bear in mind their corporate responsibility to the environment.
He said he is hoping the beach committee would start making this idea appealing to persons.
He said further that the Government is looking to put in place various regulations, and to enact legislation to protect that beach as a special area, because the matter of litter and solid waste disposal is of utmost importance.
The garbage on the beach is mostly comprised of plastic bottles and Styrofoam food boxes; and consideration is being given to banning the use of such items on the beach, in order to help preserve the aesthetics of the beach.
Haralsingh pointed to the investment opportunities that exist at the #63 Beach, and urged that the committee work towards developing an action plan that would take advantage of those opportunities.
He said there are many opportunities that exist for investment at the #63 Beach facility, inclusive of jet skiing, water-based activities, accommodation, camping, tours and sporting activities.
He also said that the beach is not merely a government-run entity or attraction, but the private sector committee has a number of opportunities to provide needed money-making facilities at the beach; and some of those opportunities include providing pavilions, benabs, toilet facilities, changing rooms, showers etc.
Haralsingh noted that the issue of zoning at the beach is also being looked at, whereby the beach would be divided into zones for different purposes. The zones would be a bonus, as they would comprise a quiet zone (used for worshipping and religious activities); kids’ zone; entertainment zone etc.
Haralsingh said that dilapidated structures at the beach are another issue being addressed, as persons who use the beach are also responsible for its current state. He said there are persons who have vandalised and otherwise caused major damage to the facilities at the beach in acts of carelessness by which persons cannibalise the structures on the beach and use them for their own purposes.
He said the GTA has seen it pivotal to put up the structures at the beach, and that body expects persons to care the facilities when they use them. He said the Tourism Ministry and the GTA are moving to streamline the public/private sector partnership, which is a collaborative effort of vital importance; and the ANSA McAL Trading Limited has recently constructed a benab at the beach, which that company branded, and this is welcome addition to the facilities of the beach.
Haralsingh said he is encouraging other corporate entities to invest in erecting facilities at the beach, as doing so would be to those companies’ benefit, since they can both use the facility they construct as well as display their branding.
He added that companies have been identified to construct and maintain facilities at the beach, and they would be given the leverage to brand and have ownership of things lacking at the beach.
Haralsingh said persons need to take more pride in the beach as a major tourist attraction in the country. Additionally, organising activities which have a regional interest, such as a beach volleyball competition, would allow the Number 63 Beach to create a name for itself, so to speak.
He said there is a lot more to be done, and the access road which leads to the beach is also in need of repair, as it is a sore issue which he expects the public/private partnership to examine.