NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – With only one month left before Christmas Day, economic activity in New Amsterdam is not bright. President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) Rohan Marray said it is too early to make a comparison but from all appearances, “business has not picked up as yet. It is on the slow side.”
He cited the situation in the sugar industry and the fact that workers have not yet received back pay as contributing factors. He explained that many persons in New Amsterdam and its environs depend on the sugar industry and with the current state of affairs, the spending power is low.
The Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association spans New Amsterdam, East and West Canje, East Bank of Berbice and up to Borlam on the Corentyne. Its constitution covers the entire East Berbice/Corentyne but over the years other chambers came into being thus reducing its area of concentration.
Traditionally economic activities in New Amsterdam for the past few years would see a boom by December reaching its maximum the two weeks leading to Christmas. Marray said up to yesterday people were only buying the basic necessities. Many people also depend on remittances from abroad. “If that doesn’t come in for Christmas then it would be trouble.”
He disclosed that New Amsterdam is at a standstill. “A lot of development seems to be taking place outside of New Amsterdam. Places like Rosignol and Corriverton are developing faster than New Amsterdam.”
He posited that the township needs a general facelift in order to get back on the map. The municipality is not generating any sort of income. Against that backdrop, he pleaded with overseas-based Guyanese or anyone in a position, to invest in New Amsterdam, in order to assist in restoring it to its former glory.
“The Town Council has a great role to play in whether people invest or not. They got to provide the land; they got to provide the services, advice and so on.” He indicated that when the New Amsterdam/Rosignol Ferry service was operating prior to the construction of the Berbice River Bridge, large numbers of persons travelled from West Berbice to shop in New Amsterdam, but this has changed. The cost for a commuter to traverse the Berbice River Bridge is $300.
“Now, in some cases, it is less costly for them to go to Georgetown and do their business. If a man has to come to New Amsterdam with his car, he pays $2,200 to cross on the bridge. If he goes to Georgetown he gets a wider variety at a cheaper price in the long term it would be more beneficial for him.”
Marray made a call to his fellow business persons to be more security conscious at this time of year. In his view, the rate of crime in East Berbice has increased, especially in East Canje. He emphasized the need for businessmen to provide a good quality service with aesthetics to match in order to be able to attract customers. He added. “All these things combined we, in New Amsterdam, are not going anywhere… things are on the dull side.”