No.63 Beach gets four new benabs
Sanitary facilities, changing rooms needed
Stabroek News
February 15, 2003
Nestling quietly some 40 miles away from bustling New Amsterdam Town, the Number 63 beach on the Corentyne was given a new look one month ago with the construction of four wooden benabs built at a cost of some $1.5M as part of an upgrading programme.
Up to then there was no shade on the open beach but now several visitors are making use of the benabs.
The five-mile stretch of beach provides relaxation for many and is very popular on Sundays.
However, when Stabroek News visited the beach it was found to be lacking in sanitary facilities and changing rooms. The beach only has two makeshift toilets and is littered with garbage since bins are absent.
Chairman of the No 63 beach Development Commit-tee, Magistrate Krishendat Persaud said that he is aware of the present condition of the beach and is hoping to get financial help to carry out more developmental works. "Once help is given, plans of making changing rooms and sanitary facilities are on the agenda," he said.
Recently, Minister of Tourism, Manzoor Nadir along with members of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce visited the No. 63 beach.
This was followed shortly after by a lengthy meeting among its members. This newspaper was told that a number of private companies played a vital role in contributing to the development of the beach and it is hoped that others would also assist.
The No. 63 beach is also popular for the watermelon stands run by farmers who find the place most suitable for vending their produce. According to Shakuntala of No. 63 Village, Corentyne, watermelons are her only source of income and as a result she frequents the beach on a daily basis and is quite pleased with the new benabs.
She said that the benabs are most welcome since they give her shade during the day. The fruit vendor disclosed that she normally cleans up the beach everyday after visitors depart.
Another vendor told this newspaper that since boyhood days he has been visiting the No. 63 beach and hopes that the area can be further improved. He stated that someone needs to manage the beach since robberies are becoming common during the week when the area is deserted.
The No. 63 beach starts at No. 49 Village and ends at Skeldon at No. 66 Village at Scottsburg Creek on the Corentyne.
Stabroek News understands that among the plans for further development of the beach are a recreation area for children and the erection of a tide information board, while the Government guesthouse is to be rehabilitated and various public awareness programmes are to be launched.
