By Nangamso Mabindla
5 May 2005

THE EAST London beachfront and Esplanade will be a site to behold for the city's residents and tourists alike - this is the first task of the new chief executive officer at the Buffalo City Beachfront Development Agency.

Gaster Sharpley is the new man at the helm of the agency, the municipality's tool to co-ordinate and manage public resources and to pursue opportunities for using these resources to attract investment. It aims to redevelop and revitalise major tourist attractions in the region, such as the beachfront.

When announcing the new chief, Mayor Sindisile Maclean said he would have a crucial role to play, with the future development of the city resting on his shoulders. "We believe that under-investment on our beachfront with its enormous potential cannot be allowed to continue."

However, the agency also needed to develop other parts of the city and to promote businesses. "We want the agency to go inland and boost the economy of the whole of Buffalo City. It also needs to make sure that the City involves previously disadvantaged people on its road to economic development."

Sharpley took office on 1 May and has plans to revive the East London coastline, from Gonubie up to the West Bank. "It is a big task but I am positive that we can revive the city's prime tourist attraction. I am looking to start on the Esplanade and work from there," he said.

Sharpley has a three-year renewable contract.