A FEW months ago, the Black Entrepreneurs Association (BEA) was launched by Mr Rowen Willabus, one of Guyana’s most prominent ICT experts.  However, there were no follow-up media reports, despite the fact that its aims and programmes  were of national value and, if achieved, would help create a happier Guyana.  At the time of its launch Ms Melissa Varwyk, spokesperson for the association, and Mr Willabus outlined some of the aims and programmes of the association, which were largely educational.

In the first place,  African Guyanese were enjoined to fully grasp that one’s income or wealth is not to be used only for consumption, but a portion, no matter how small, should be regularly saved to provide security and to generate further wealth and that if one does not make the sacrifice of saving, one would always be impoverished and struggling.  The stereotype of today’s young people, in particular African Guyanese, having to compulsively consume whatever they have, is belied by history.  In the 1840s, the freed slaves who had literally saved penny by penny were able to buy abandoned sugar estates, establish villages such as Buxton and Victoria and build thousands of houses in all three counties.  They fetched the purchase payments in wheelbarrows full of coins.

Small businesses should try to purchase the premises from which they operate, so that they could avoid the burden of paying continuous rental or having to remove after the site had acquired goodwill.  Premises could be bought by mortgage, and the BEA could provide guidance in this regard.  Mortgages are usually amortised against rentals.  Also thought should be given to investing in other real estate.

The association has developed a relationship with IPED, which could help to accommodate loans.  IPED was founded by the late Dr Yesu Persaud to stimulate entrepreneurship in Guyana.  IPED lends money to small businesses to further their development.  All small businesses invoking BEA’s assistance must be properly registered, have a business plan and have committed management before being recommended by BEA.

The Ministry of Tourism and Commerce has facilities for lending startups, and the BEA could provide necessary guidance.

The BEA has been networking with other African Guyanese organisations and other North America and Britain bodies that share the same vision and have been developing cooperation with them to their mutual benefit. Such networking would have much relevance to the growth of African Guyanese entrepreneurs.

training is an important area of BEA’s programmes.  The personnel of small businesses and startups would be trained in the activities of the banking system, the Guyana Revenue Authority,  the Procurement Authority;  the National Insurance Scheme;  the Local Content Law and procedures;  and ICT training.  Knowledge of these has now become a necessity for all businesses, no matter how small.  An example of this, ICT  has now become the language of business, and except one is fully aware of the Procurement Authority and its functioning, one would not be able to bid for projects and take advantage of the other offerings of the state.  To take advantage of the wealth the oil-and-gas industry is offering, businesses and individuals must become acquainted with the Local Content Law.

If anyone or group speaks of bettering the condition of its racial group, or is even imagined to be so doing, there is a small group of very vocal people who raise the cry of race and racism.  Such people are almost invariably aligned with political groups or parties which feel that the only way they could mobilise a constituency is by crying ‘race’ and not by doing hard work of helping to develop the country or its people.  The BEA  has a programme which is national and not racist, since it is now realised that the population of Guyana is so intertwined that it is impossible to harm any section without ultimately harming all. Similarly, if any section prospers or is bettered, all sections will ultimately share in the prosperity and betterment.   Accordingly, programmes like the BEA’s are national, in that they are not helping to develop only a section of the Guyanese people.