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In 2012, the GMSA submitted grant proposals to CEDA immediately following that agency’s invitation for submission of projects to benefit from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), the main instrument for providing “community aid” for development cooperation in ACP countries.
CEDA granted approval for EDF technical and financial assistance for the GMSA’s projects in the category Q4 1012; and a group of renowned local fashion designers met with a GMSA team in March to begin the process of establishing an association comprising fashion designers and manufacturers of jewellery, accessories, shoes and other designer artifacts.
Among them were Patricia Coates of the Village Couture, Carol Fraser of the Miracle Hands Fibre Arts & Craft (MHFAC), Andrea Brathwaithe of the Timeless Treasures, Marcia De Santos of Marsae, and Derek Moore of D’Adlai Designs. Sonia Noel of Mariska’s Fashions also played a significant role in the early stages of the organisational development process.
The GMSA executives made it clear that CEDA had outlined in specific terms the benchmarks that the Fashion Designers Council must accomplish in order to qualify for EDF benefits. Among those terms were the formation of an association and provision of matching funds to the tune of 12,000 Euros. CEDA’s grant funds total 30,000 Euros. Accordingly, the fashion grouping identified their start-up management committee, which comprises the following members: Pat Coates as President/CEO, Derek Moore as Senior Vice President; Sonia Noel as International Liaison; Carol Fraser as Local Liaison for Merchandising; Andrea Braithwaite as Marketing and Public Relations Officer, and Marcia De Santos functioning as Treasurer/Accountant. The GMSA will provide management support and guidance from formulation through to the time when the Council becomes fully functional and self-sustainable. The major initiatives for project execution would have to come from their membership.
In the meantime, the GMSA has invited the Small Business Bureau, through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), to participate in this project. The parties are expected to meet shortly to discuss seed funding and avenues for institutional strengthening.
Clement Duncan, GMSA Director for Trade and Investment, took the opportunity to inform fashion designers that the GMSA is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, having started out with just eight (8) persons in 1963. Today, he said, the Association has 106 registered members comprising small, medium, and large-scale enterprises operating in the manufacturing and services sectors. He urged the designers to utilize their organising strengths to raise the matching funds and provide revenue for their administrative requirements.
This is the first time that the GMSA has received approval for grant funding under the EDF since it was established in 1959, despite past efforts made by a number of Guyanese business support and other organisations to benefit alongside counterpart Caribbean companies and BSOs.
It was through the aggressive advocacy of past president, Clinton Williams that the GMSA succeeded in engaging Caribbean Export, the European link to this region. A team of CEDA executives visited Guyana in May 2012 and conducted an evaluation of business developmental needs, and CEDA has since named the GMSA as its antenna organisation in Guyana, and has been providing sponsorship for their human resources’ training programmes.
This 10th EDF, a revision of the Y2000 Cotonou Agreement, expires at the end of 2013.
