Edward Beharry and Company has been in business in Guyana for the past 79 years and their support for sport in the country started way back then.
Recently, company Chairman Edward Anand Beharry sat down with Stabroek Sport and spoke at length about their contributions and satisfaction as it relates to sport in Guyana.
According to the younger Beharry, this year they are more than happy as sponsors to be associated with the teams and organisations they have been supporting over the years.
Positive return
Unlike many other companies, it was said that Beharry does not get any returns for their support to sport, but the chairman noted that their gain comes from the performances of the people or teams they sponsor.
“You know, we are not like some companies. If GT&T sponsors motor racing, they would get something back from it because of the promotions they would run and so on, if Banks DIH sponsors an event, they will get returns from the bar so even if they don’t clear what they have given, they will get something back from it, and the list could go on, but for us, what can we get?” the chairman asked.
“With the type of sports we sponsor – rugby, football and so on, how can we put champion chowmien and some of the other products in a bar to sell,” he noted lightheartedly.
“So what we as a company do is support sports in this country because we feel its our obligation as corporate Guyana to do so.”
Happy year
This year, Beharry said, as sponsors they are pleased with the Guyana Sevens Rugby team who have qualified for the Commonwealth Games and the World Sevens Series in Los Vegas next year February and also being involved with the 20th Kashif and Shanghai tournament.
“You know honestly, this is the best way to honour the sponsorship of companies such as ours who just do what we do as Guyanese basically. As sponsors when a team or an organisation excels, it means you did well simply because it’s like you’re not spending your money in vain so to speak. So that is why we are happy with the accomplishment of the rugby team.”
As it relates to the Kashif and Shanghai organisation, Beharry said that they are more than pleased to be associated with the tournament this year, simply because they have watched the organisation transform their tournament to become Guyana’s biggest sporting spectacle.
The company has plugged in excess of $2M into this year’s tournament and for Beharry, he believes that it’s money well spent.
“Over the years we are always impressed with these guys and the way they are able to get things done on a professional basis and this year also they were able to get ‘King Pele’ in as their guest of honour so I think that’s a major accomplishment since it adds a level of precedence and we as a company and as sponsors, we are proud of them.”
This year, Beharry said, their sponsorship comes under the ‘Champion Chowmien’ brand and there is no sarcasm attached to that.
But being one of Guyana’s leading manufacturing companies with their products reaching worldwide, Beharry said that the influx of sponsorship seekers is overwhelming and luckily for them, they did not feel the brunt of the global economic downturn.
“It’s good to say that we didn’t really do bad looking at how things was economically around the world; business at times was a bit slow, but not that much for us to talk or complain about. But what we do, we prioritise our sponsorship.
Like cricket, football and rugby among others who we have strong ties too, but the doors are always open to people. We might not give all but we try to help as much as we can,” Beharry noted.
