THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security opened two new facilities at its Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GLWI) at Cove and John on the East Coast of Demerara.
The new facilities are a child-friendly space for children of participants of various Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programmes, and a Roots of Flavour Culinary Arts Centre.
Opened in the 1990s by former Minister of Human Services and Social Security Indranie Chandarpaul, the GWLI has served a total of 25,000 women to date through programmes and initiatives like the WIIN programme, teaching them valuable life skills that will open doors to employment, entrepreneurship and financial independence. This is the foundation that the current minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud and her team are building on.
Delivering the feature remarks, Minister Persaud said, “the Roots and Flavour Culinary Arts Centre is not just another centre. We have excellent centres across Guyana. It’s the newest kid on the block… it’s the newest kid on the block with a purpose.”
She explained that the culinary arts centre is an initiative and a building that was constructed by the government of Guyana through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and with the support of the Embassy of China and the Government of China, the UN Women, and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).
Minister Persaud said food is the heart and soul of our country. She related that generations before us learned from their grandmothers and mothers who they saw in the kitchen preparing local meals. Dr Persaud said it is up to this generation to recreate these meals and add our own twists to these dishes.
“Roots speak to the rich heritage of Guyana, bringing together cultures that span continents, and with those cultures we would have become the melting pot in Guyana. I will say, very unapologetically that we have the best food in this part of the world,” the minister said.
She said that the vision behind this was to take the flavours of our heritage and culture, roots and flavours to ensure we place these meals on every table beyond Guyana’s borders and develop a thriving street food industry.
Moreover, one of the things the Human Services Ministry has pioneered in Guyana is ensuring that there are childcare centres, spaces, and corners, so that when parents come to learn, they’re not worried about the welfare, well-being, and safety of their children.
According to the minister, “It should not be a setback. It should be something that is okay, the norm. I’m bringing my child. I’m cooking. I’m learning. My child’s right there. I can run across and check that child out and see how they’re doing. So, this is how we plan to offer our training going forward, taking into account what we want to achieve and how we want to propel persons who have that vision for themselves in the culinary eye of things.”
She pointed out as well that the care economy is also something that is part of her ministry.
The ministry, she disclosed, is endeavouring to set up several care spaces in communities to provide care for the elderly and children.
