NINE women from Guyana have been selected to participate in the second Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean Acceleration Programme (WINC AP) this year.

The eight-month long programme provides training in a suite of services, related to business and personal development, enabling women from the Caribbean to transform and boost growth within their businesses. Implemented by World Bank’s InfoDev, the training is part of the Entrepreneurship Programme for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC) and is funded by the Canadian Government.

Selected to participate in this year’s Acceleration Programme are: Ms. Veronica Glen, Ms. Wanda Dillon, Ms. Maxine George, Ms. Christine Gooding, Ms. Cecily Bernard, Ms. Natasha Goodman, Ms. Candace Wickham, Ms. Petal Dodson and Ms. Claudette Fredericks.

Hosted by GeoTech Vision Team, the launching saw attendance from First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger; Managing Director of GeoTech Vision, Ms. Valrie Grant; Charge De Affairs at the Canadian High Commission, Ms. Jan Sheltinga; General Manager-Credit of Republic Bank of Guyana, Mrs. Parbatie Khan and Business Coach at ActionCOACH Guyana, Vishnu Doerga.

During her remarks, Ms. Valrie Grant revealed that women entrepreneurship rates were rising at an average faster than males, with women seeing a 10% increase and men, only five per cent. Although this is an active narrowing of the gender gap between males and females, Grant said that maintaining this progress remains a significant challenge for women worldwide.

Hence, the WINC AP initiative strives to empower independent women to lead lasting changes in their families and communities, further contributing to the economic growth of their countries.

Mrs. Parbatie Khan, the main speaker at the event, stressed that Guyanese women needed to step forward in preparation for the future as the country prepares for the advent of its oil and gas industry.

“…we’re fortunate in this point in time to be a part of Guyana where it is at a change…with the oil sector coming in. We have to be ready,” Khan added, “In fact our role is yet doubled, because we also have to put ourselves out there, though it is coming to us, we have to step forward.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Vishnu Doerga, who served as a mentor during the previous programme, cautioned the business representatives present to keep up their end of the bargain in all business activities.

“As businesses we also have a responsibility to ensure we’ve honoured all our obligations. Taxation, the NIS, the licensing…because we can’t keep complaining about the government not doing what they have to do but we don’t contribute to our fair share.” Deorga cautioned.

He concluded, “If you take the knowledge that is provided to you, I’ve seen women get fantastic results, just by making sure you apply yourselves diligently.”

The proceeds of the organisation’s Empowerment Luncheon, which is set for tomorrow, will go towards the support of women entrepreneurs affected by the natural disasters that occurred during this year’s hurricane season.