The street that never sleeps
By Abigail Kippins
FOR most people, it is simply `the street that never sleeps'.
By day, Sheriff Street is a well-traversed thoroughfare. But as the sun sets, this main artery is transformed into what some people say is the hottest nightspot in the country.
Over the years, the street has become a hub of entertainment activities, with a string of nightclubs and `hang-out' spots, restaurants and a few hotels punctuating the landscape.
Flanked by schools, grocery stores, supermarkets, auto dealers, boutiques, travel services, pharmacies, hardware stores, vulcanising shops and bakeries, Sheriff Street now has just about enough for the tourist who wants a little of everything.
"New businesses are going up everywhere along here and recently it has been attracting more and more people who I think are simply looking for the most lively place which offers good entertainment ... it never stops, the partying goes on night after night ...," one resident declared during an interview with the Sunday Chronicle.
According to him, Sheriff Street is now one of the most popular streets in town, not because of the commercial expansions, but because "it has what the people are looking for - entertainment, wherever that is, the people go ..."
Sheriff Street was initially intended to be a bypass for vehicles coming from the East Bank going to the East Coast public road and vice versa, to save travellers the inconvenience of having to go the downtown route.
However, while this is an easier process during the day, at nights, especially weekends, it is a challenge to drive on Sheriff Street. Double parking on both sides of the road is a norm and many patrons seem to enjoy the night life better when they are on the street itself, `liming' `near the vehicles.
Some business people hold the view that the street should be closed to vehicular traffic during the nights, particularly on weekends, but that is contrary to its purpose, an official said.
For others, the provision of parking facilities would improve the traffic situation.
Nightlife on Sheriff Street began with a limited number of nightclubs, including The Sheriff, of eight years and Tennessee, of eleven years. Tennessee was the first such entertainment spot to open its doors.
"... It was a good location to start a night business. I have noticed that the street is not so busy (for business) during the day: it is dismal and becomes more active during the nights. So I decided to open a restaurant and bar for the night business and it worked fairly good," said businessman and owner of The Sheriff, Mr. David Bacchus.
He noted that there has been increasing competition since many have realised that the street lends itself to night activities.
He, however, pointed out that while there is expansion in this capacity, his business is also growing because there is a greater number of people flocking the area, and in turn, his business.
While these nightspots are open throughout the week, the vast majority offers entertainment only on weekends, during which time the area is steadily buzzing with activities.
It is a notably historical transformation and the area has been soliciting various complementary business places.
However, many of those who tried investing in the area, have resorted to closing after a few weeks of service since their businesses are not "flourishing" like the nightspots.
Bacchus added that over the holidays, the area tends to attract a larger number of foreigners and overseas-based Guyanese who simply enjoy what is offered.
He noted that should the area be promoted, with improved police protection, it would augment the tourism industry.
Minister of Trade, Tourism and Industry, Mr. Geoffrey Da Silva reiterated that "an area like Sheriff Street is needed for tourism".
"... And I am very happy about what is happening there ... I am willing to meet with the business people to work towards promoting that area," he stated.
Noting that there has been a major transformation of Sheriff Street over the past few years, the Minister added that the business people should develop a business association.
"... As you know, there are not many discos left in Guyana so the night spots on Sheriff Street are providing an opportunity for tourists. When they come to Guyana, they have somewhere to go, play pools or dance, go the bars, be entertained, we need that ...," he declared.
He said last year, he was approached by some business people and residents of the area with proposals for a lime on Sheriff Street.
However, while noting that something had to be done to promote tourism in the area, he explained that Sheriff Street is much different from Main Street, which has many characteristics that lend themselves to such activities.
"It is a beautiful avenue with trees, double carriageway, top hotels, top restaurants, the State House, the Prime Minister residence, and so on. We want to maintain that, but at the same time, we have to encourage the development of Sheriff Street. I don't know if we should call it a lime, but we should do some activity there ...", the Minister said.
He further noted that it is in the interest of the business people to move immediately to form an association so they could be part of a process with City Council and the central government to work towards the development and expansion of Sheriff Street.
More has to be done, the Minister said, to develop the area and promote the form of entertainment which would heighten the tourism industry.
Large firms and those in the business of `fast foods' including Banks DIH and Royal Castle are opening branches on Sheriff Street.
According to Mr. Brian James, Director of Royal Castle, "... it has the kind of attributes which makes it deserving of various types of expansion ...".
The management committee of the `fast food' outlet is planning to establish a `drive-through' along Sheriff Street in the near future.
"We are in the service industry and have to carry the service to the people ...", James said.
With the expansion, Royal Castle will provide service and employment and develop the commercial nature of Sheriff Street, he said.
According to James, "when you party, you get hungry", and Royal Castle would be right on target to meet the needs of the people.
However, while the business community welcomes the new developments, some residents feel they are being shifted into the background and decry the seamier side of nightlife.
And therein lies the grim reality beneath all the glamour - crime, prostitution where the courtesans, like the many other business people, find Sheriff Street the prime location for "good night business".
"... This place was peaceful and quiet before, now it is a lot of lawlessness and noise. It is terrible," declared one woman who has lived there for over 50 years.
Visibly upset about the influx of business places, she said the family is planning to uproot and move on since the once serene residential area has recently been "reduced to nil".
"I prefer it the way it was before, it is terrible now", she stressed recalling that the music affects the children's night rest.
Another resident stated: "When they play the music, all my house vibrating, the windows shaking, the children jumping out of their sleep, the vehicles speeding, and I have to wait half an hour in the mornings before I can cross the street ... I don't know what is happening here ...".
He explained that expansion is necessary for the development of any area or country, but "what Sheriff Street has become is now unsuitable for anyone to raise a family, especially the area between Duncan and David Streets ..."
"Here is not a place to live anymore ... it attracts all kinds of people ..." he said.
The Minister of Trade, however, stated that "one cannot be at the expense of the other. The residents cannot get all that they want at the expense of the business people, and the business people cannot ignore the concerns and interests of the residents".
He said the key thing is to get the residents involved.
"... They have to meet with the business people to sit and discuss the issues and work something out. I will visit the business people and try to have a meeting with them."
While some residents are eagerly awaiting this meeting to voice there concerns and demand "the restoration of peace" in the area, others are contemplating the high price business people are paying for a plot of land in the area.
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