-calls for repeal of Anti-Gay Laws

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Amaya Milk Company, Omkaar Sharma, has called on businesses across Guyana to create inclusive workplaces free from discrimination, stressing that inclusivity is not charity but a foundation for economic growth and national unity.

Speaking at the National Small Business Week Symposium, hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Sharma endorsed the Guyana Together campaign while urging business leaders to “harness the potential of all Guyanese.”

“A workplace where everyone feels safe, respected and valued is a place where your team can be their best and you will have tangible results,” Sharma told participants. He emphasized that inclusivity must extend beyond race and religion to also protect individuals from discrimination based on sexuality.

Challenging Guyana’s colonial-era laws that criminalize same-sex intimacy between consenting men, Sharma said these outdated laws undermine efforts to build inclusive work environments. “Why are we turning a blind eye to the fact that our legal system facilitates the harassment of gay men?” he asked. “As business owners, we have to lead by example, but it is difficult for us to lead on this when anti-gay discrimination is codified in our laws.”

According to a statement from the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Sharma’s remarks add to growing calls for repeal of the laws, which have already been removed in several CARICOM states, including St. Lucia. Guyana remains the only country in South America to maintain them. The group highlighted that recent polling shows 54 percent of Guyanese support overturning the ban.

Sharma urged fellow entrepreneurs to join the advocacy, stressing that inclusivity strengthens both businesses and society. “Because the truth is, inclusivity is not charity. It is not a special favour we grant. It is the foundation of our businesses, our economy, and a more united country,” he said.

The Guyana Together campaign has already received endorsements from more than 100 businesses and civil society organizations, including major private sector bodies such as the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana. The spokesperson encouraged other business leaders to add their voices by signing on through the campaign’s website: https://guyanatogether.gy/endorsements.