By Vanessa Braithwaite
THE President David Granger-led administration, over the past four years, has pumped millions of dollars into government financial agencies to support small businesses and to stimulate village economies.

While the government was unable to provide widespread job opportunities, it has made significant strides in ensuring the unemployed become self-employed. A fitting example of this is in the town of Linden where the unemployment stands at 70 per cent. Since taking office, the government has pumped $155M in 2015, $100M in 2016, $90M in 2017 and $200M in 2018, into the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN).

In addition to this lending institution for Region 10 only, the Small Business Bureau has also injected a significant amount in grants and loans for Lindeners. The increase in allocation of finance for these agencies show that there has been heightened clientele and people are buying into the idea of owning a business.

It therefore means that an updated census into the unemployed needs to be executed as there are more people turning to traditional businesses, niche businesses, agro-processing and skills-based businesses in which they would have derived skills from the various training opportunities made available through the government and other agencies.

There are still persons who remain an unemployment statistic because of inaction. Giving them the timely advice to find a solution to the problem, is confectionery business owner, Gomer Wilson, commonly known as Linden’s snow cone man. Five years ago, Gomer was part the unemployed faction of the community but he was determined to get out. “I was looking for a way out, for a place where I can look after my children and family. I listened to Dr. Miles Monroe and he said, we are fully-loaded with success – all you have to do is find a problem and solve it. I solved the problem with snow cone and since I have embraced that principle, it has never been the same,” he related.

SOLUTION WITHIN

In reminiscing how far he has come over the last five years, Wilson said: “I started from a push cart, to a three wheeler, to a truck and I am going to private jet, there is no limit, all because I applied that principle, we are loaded for success,” he said. Since he believed that the solution was within him, Wilson never took a loan to expand his business but as he said with determination and diligence, he was able to expand.

He has now elevated the business by selling very unique and creative looking snow cones and other confectionaries including ice-cream and is in process of opening up another branch at his home in Wismar, Linden. “When you have nothing to do, look for something to do, look for the solution in the problem,” he said.

Oswald Charles, known as ‘Speedy’, said he saw a problem with cane juice in Linden. While he sold regular sweet drinks, he realised the market was becoming saturated and he needed to find a niche. He was motivated by a close friend to try the cane juice vending, and today he has not regretted it.

“I use to work bus and then I realise everybody start working bus, then I started selling drinks and that became popular too and somebody told me to try something local. I go and sleep on it and I spent some time and I decided to try it. I started by grinding the cane home and coming out and sell it in bag, like around 20 something. Then I realise it started catching on and more people started coming so I brought my machine out here and grind it out here myself,” he said.

DOING WELL
Today, Charles’ business has expanded to the point where he has up to 30 different suppliers of cane. He has also extended to selling fresh orange juice, all in his bid of promoting healthy drinking. Charles then started setting goals for himself. He wanted to set up a clean and customer friendly environment, where he can sell his beverages; he still sells sweet drinks. “Thanks to the government, I got a grant from Small Business Bureau and a loan from LEN and I was able to set up my establishment here, buy my freezer; buy other machinery and so. In life you got to plan, you have to know what you want in the next three years, in the next five years,” Charles said.

He is also encouraging young persons and the unemployed to take pride out of their eyes, be themselves and do not try to please people.

“Don’t look at what you would like to sell, but what is in demand and you will never fail,” he said. With his business, Charles is able to adequately provide for his three children and wife. His next goal is to have employees and start a double shift operation.
Small businesses play a vital role in keeping Guyana’s economy together. It accounts for about 40 per cent of the total employment and remain a key driver in tackling poverty and unemployment. LEN grants loans for business initiatives from as low as $50,000 to $1M. The Board of Directors, headed by Chairman Orrin Gordon, would have considered the need to raise the ceiling for lending to satisfy capital needed for larger businesses. The proposal for same suggests that loans can be approved to as much as $7M and there will also be case-by-case evaluation for much larger businesses.

LEN’s basic requirement includes the submission of working capital. The age requirement is between 18 to 65 years old and the interest rate is eight per cent across the board.