Signing of Bartica MoU

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce on Wednesday (February 3), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bartica Chamber of Commerce for the establishment of a Business Registration Hub in Bartica.

With the signing of the MOU, businesses will now be able to submit their application forms and pay the requisite fees at the office of the Bartica Chamber of Commerce, located at 55 First Avenue, Bartica. These applications will then be forwarded in bulk to the Registration Office in Essequibo for expedited processing.

This initiative was implemented with the aim of reducing the cost, time and burden of registering a business in Bartica with the overall objectives of improving the ease of doing business and increasing the number of businesses becoming formalized.

The MOU was signed by Nicola Namdeo, Director of Commerce, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Nicole Prince, Registrar, Deeds and Commercial Registry, and Anthony Murray, President, Bartica Chamber of Commerce.

In December 2020, the Department of Commerce engaged in discussions with the Commercial Registry and the Bartica Chamber of Commerce for the establishment of a business registration hub in Bartica given the difficulty businesses have been facing in getting their businesses registered. However, due to travel restrictions, this MOU could not have been signed until today.

Prior to the signing of the MOU, businesses were required to travel to Parika via boat, board another boat to Supenaam, take a taxi to the Essequibo High Court – Registration Office – to submit their applications then return 4 -5 days after to uplift the business registration.

Business Registration Hubs have also been established in Mabaruma, Corentyne, Mahdia and Lethem.