Building on Number 63
Editorial
THE stretch of beach on the Berbice coast known as Number 63 Beach has long had the reputation of being perhaps the best piece of such terrain in Guyana.
Long before the other now more popular outdoor spots for outings became popular as tourist spots, Number 63 Beach was the place to go for the Sunday outing, the holiday picnic, the family excursion.
When visitors ask about Guyana's beach - understandably accepting Guyana to have beaches since it is more often than not known overseas as a Caribbean country (even an island to many!) - the first and often the only place that slips unbidden from locals is Number 63 Beach.
It is not known much outside of Berbice these days largely because the spots in the limelight in the current drive to boost tourism are those resorts in the Essequibo or in Demerara.
There have been a few springing up away from the coast in Berbice but none that can yet rate as high as Number 63 Beach.
The beach there has a lot going for it and it seems natural that the tourism folks are eyeing it as a tourist attraction.
Tourism Minister, Mr Geoffrey Da Silva checked it out last week during a visit to Berbice to rev up the momentum for the grand `New Amsterdam Town Day' billed for later this month.
He said he is looking at ways to develop Number 63 Beach into a popular tourist site and plans to work closely with the regional administration to make the project successful. There are plans to rebuild two guest houses, set up public sanitary facilities and build benabs along the beach.
Mr Da Silva said details would be worked out and submitted for financing in next year's national budget.
Corentyne residents clearly recognise the value of the natural resource their area has been endowed with as a report said a farmers group there voluntarily help to keep the beach free of litter. Mr Da Silva said persons will now be hired to maintain the beach.
Developing Number 63 Beach as a tourist attraction makes a lot of sense in the national tourism drive.
The long-awaited bridge across the Berbice River will make access to other coastlanders much easier and faster and the beach could be slotted into the tour packages that take in tourist attractions in other parts of the country.
It is already easy for visitors to get there from Georgetown and if properly packaged and managed, Number 63 could get a good number rating.
Horse racing tracks in the region could be upgraded to increase the attractiveness for visitors and the beach is not far from spots on the Corentyne and the wider East Berbice that would make a trip worthwhile.
Improved hotels and better restaurants could be fitted into the plan with Number 63 the hub for the region.
If properly developed, the airstrip at Skeldon could also be upgraded for small aircraft flights that can take in the Caribbean.
The earning potential from tourism is immense and once the conditions are right, Number 63 Beach could very quickly become a top rate tourist attraction.
Mr Da Silva has picked up on a good thing and the challenge is to make the dream come through quickly.
Berbice has already shown that it can produce some of the best cricketers in the world and the development of the game in the region could get a real great fillip if its beach of local renown gains a reputation in tourist circles in the Caribbean and beyond.
It's already within easy reach by road and ferry from Georgetown and with some imagination and hard work, it could soon be on easy street with tourists and many, many more Guyanese.
It's time for Number 63 Beach to really take off.
 Follow the goings-on in Guyana
|