In effort to raise living standards, Rose Hall residents urged to tap into SBB grants

Rose Hall, East Berbice Corentyne, residents on Monday were urged to apply for grants through the Small Business Bureau (SBB) to enhance their entrepreneurial endeavours and living standards.

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud led the call along with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd during community engagements. Ms. Andrea Cort who is a mother of five told the media that she is excited to resuscitate her business should she qualify for the SBB grant. “I’m willing to open up back my business because I used to be selling at Port Mourant Market and Rose Hall [Market],” Cort said.

The mother hailed the advice of Dr. Persaud, noting that she isn’t a stranger to government initiatives that empower women. Cort has successfully completed a four-month course that has certified her to care for the elderly and sick.

Ms. Shaneeza Khan, another resident also welcomed the guidance she received while applying for the grant. Khan disclosed that she is a single mom, and it is better to have multiple streams of income to take care of her family.

The single parent mother said, “we needed this a long time in Region Six, and I think it is good idea having the ministers in the region… because they [residents] get to share their thoughts and ideas.” Meanwhile, Ms. Yonnette Clarke, stressed that the SBB grant would unlock opportunities for business expansion. “I recently collected 20 black giant chickens from NAREI [National Agriculture Research Institute] … So, we need to go out more into it,” Clarke said.

The self-employed resident revealed that plans are afoot to rare other livestock such as ducks. On explaining her views on the importance of the SBB grants to entrepreneurs, Clarke said, “a lot of people would appreciate that people are willing to do things, to do something to help themselves… We have a lot of farmlands. We can go to the farm- go to the land to keep ourselves occupied.”

Minister Persaud commenting on the sidelines of a walkabout at Rose Hall market, noted that she was pleased to steer residents in the right direction, concerning the steps needed to apply for the SBB grants. The minister said that while residents were briefed on the numerous opportunities for advancement through her ministry’s Women Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), she declared that the SBB has the potential to catapult the careers of WIIN graduates.

“Now if they can use the nexus between the [SBB] and the Ministry of Human services, they need to take the next step, now that you are armed with the training, now that you have been also trained in business literacy… then head to the small business bureau and ‘take the plunge’,” Minister Persaud said. Dr. Persaud further stressed that women should take advantage of the WIIN programme since it is filled with a variety of courses, for which there will be new releases very soon.