THIRTY-SIX youths have received a financial boost to kick-start their business ventures following their graduation from a 12-week entrepreneurial skills-training programme facilitated by the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme.

They were the third batch of participants to graduate. The graduates received some $313,291 (US$1,500) each to help set up their small businesses. The training exercise ran from September to December last year and included training in financial fitness, marketing, customer management, record keeping and business plan writing.

One of the graduates, Lindener Kerryann Johnson, told DPI: “This entrepreneurial skills training was a blessing. I have gained a lot of experience and experience is one thing you cannot shortcut.” According to Johnson, the knowledge acquired will go a long way in assisting her to manage her fashion business, KG Enterprise, effectively.
Delivering the feature address at Thursday’s ceremony, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan said the training served as a prevention measure for crime and violence. “That is why, over the past five years, we have seen a decline in crime. It is not as a result only of law enforcement; it is also because we have started a process of ensuring that community officers go and find at-risk youths that could have otherwise be distracted,” the minister said.

Highlighting the fact that Guyana will soon experience a dramatic transformation in its economy, Minister Ramjattan noted the need for qualified personnel with the required skills to take the country forward. “Our government has increasingly recognised that entrepreneurship and the inspiration of empowered youth can drive economic development… it alleviates poverty,” he stated.

“It is our task to prevent every young person from becoming violent or being involved in crime,” he continued. To date, over 123 young people have been trained from Regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 including the 36 that graduated yesterday. Over $36Million has been disbursed in ‘starter’ grants. (DPI)