Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) President Samantha Reid has pledged to build a permanent headquarters before leaving office, after being re-elected.

Reid, who made history in May 2023 as the organisation's first female president, was returned to the post at a cocktail reception at the Leisure Inn Hotel in New Amsterdam.

She said securing a home for the chamber has been a personal mandate since she took office three years ago.

"One of the mandates that I have given to myself since being the head of the chamber, which is three years now, is to have a home for the chamber. I've raised quite a few dollars, and I want to see this happen before I move on," she said.

Reid said land has been acquired for the facility with help from the New Amsterdam Mayor, whom she thanked publicly.

"So we have the land, that's a good step. It's going to be in the Chamber's name shortly and we're having the land cleared and ready to go. So before I leave office I promise to have some structure on the land. This is my mandate. I want to leave that legacy," she said.

Reid, a native of Canje, thanked members for renewing their confidence in her and congratulated the new executive board.

"First of all, I want to congratulate our new executive board. Each and every one of you, thank you. Thank you for having faith in me. Thank you to members for voting me in once again," she said.

She said leading the chamber has brought criticism and hardship.

"It hasn't come without criticism or hardship. But I'm a woman and I'm resilient. And I don't take nonsense. I just keep going. So to be the head of the chamber is not easy task. It's not easy to get people to believe in what you believe in. And our mandate at the chamber, first of all, is to advocate for businesses," she said.

The BCCDA is a development association with about 70 members, mostly small and medium-sized businesses. Reid said it has provided opportunities through training, awareness programmes and collaboration with the Government, private sector organisations and international bodies.

"We, over the year, went to numerous conferences, workshops, financial programmes. You know, we have sent members to China, Thailand, to the US, to just name a few of what we have done in the last year," she said.

Reid said the initiatives are meant to strengthen the capacity of local businesses and expose them to developments beyond Guyana.