SEVENTY-FIVE young people from North Pakaraima, Region Eight, received close to $4 million in grants to boost their already-established businesses, which include grocery shops, lumbering, furniture-making and chicken, fish and cattle raring.

Drawn from 10 communities in the Potaro-Siparuni region, 11 youths are from Sandhill, three from Kamana, 13 from Waipa, nine from Kaibarupai, five from Kopinang, eight from Maikwak, two from Kato, 11 from Chiung Mouth, nine from Kurukubaru, and four are from Kanapang.

The youngsters benefitted from training under the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme where they received a monthly stipend of 30,000 and an additional sum to start-up their businesses.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who travelled to the region over the weekend and distributed the stimulus grants of $50,000 each to the youngsters, commended them for their hard work and persistence.

“For Region Eight, I would give them a big star for trying because you have to realise that these youths never knew about doing business. They are normal youths who dropped out of school… some mining and [the rest] just around, wanting to do something, wanting to learn something but there is nothing much, so this is the first time they are given the chance to try something to see what business they can do,” Minister Garrido-Lowe said.

The minister referred to one particular group of youths from Kopinang Village, who pooled their resources and constructed a guest house, which she said, was badly needed in the village. She also mentioned another group of young people involved in fish-rearing and needs assistance in acquiring fingerlings for the fish pond.

“I think they are doing a wonderful job, and I believe they will be very successful in their businesses. These youths made very good investments,” she emphasised.

Minister Garrido-Lowe also made a promise to assist in providing additional training in the area of hospitality for the youths. Further, the Ministry of Agriculture has pledged to assist them with the fish-rearing project.

Everlyn Sapirian, a young entrepreneur of Kamana Village, involved in chicken rearing, said that he is grateful for the grant. “It will help me a lot.”

Whanita John, from Waipa Village, pointed out that the HEYS programme has benefitted her tremendously.  She will be using the grant to expand her business. “We feel good. We are going to invest it towards the same programme.” (DPI)