-identifies Development Bank, education, LCDS support as pathways to entrepreneurship
SENIOR Aviation Adviser and Member of Parliament, Lenox Shuman, has urged Indigenous youth to take greater advantage of financing, education, and other support available to develop businesses and create new economic opportunities in their communities.
Shuman made the appeal during his appearance on the Starting Point podcast, during which he pointed to the Guyana Development Bank, funding available through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the government’s free education initiatives as tools that Indigenous young people can combine to build sustainable livelihoods.
He said the opportunities available today could provide Indigenous communities with greater economic prospects if young people take the initiative to identify and develop viable business ideas.
“Education is the ultimate equaliser, and when you couple that education with the Development Bank, right, $3 million dollars per person or per business to build and grow your idea. Think of the possibilities,” Shuman said.
He encouraged young Indigenous entrepreneurs to look beyond traditional business models and identify emerging areas in which they can establish specialised niches.
Among the areas he highlighted were technology, digital content, cultural promotion, and tourism, arguing that young people could use social media and other digital platforms to generate incomes, while promoting Indigenous culture.
“Utilise social media to generate revenue for you by presenting your culture in a way that you could find money,” he said.
Shuman also identified tourism as an area with significant potential for Indigenous communities, but said entrepreneurs should focus on developing distinctive products and experiences, instead of replicating existing businesses.
He argued that creating specialised tourism offerings could reduce direct competition, while giving visitors greater choice.
“I think for us, when we look at tourism, it cannot be looked at as a stock approach. We have to find the niches where people want to come. They want variety, and you offer that variety,” he said.
Shuman further encouraged Indigenous youth to take advantage of the government’s free-education initiatives, including the Guyana Online Academy of Learning and other opportunities extending from basic education to tertiary and postgraduate levels.
He said education could provide the knowledge and skills needed to make effective use of financing and transform business concepts into viable enterprises.
“The possibilities are endless,” Shuman stressed, adding, “If you could find a way to marry all of these things together, I think that our people, our Indigenous peoples are in a very, very solid space and solid place. All they need to do is take that initiative.”
Shuman also pointed to LCDS resources as another potential source of economic stimulation for Indigenous communities.
He went on to note that combining such resources with Development Bank financing and education could create progressive pathways for young Indigenous people, particularly those seeking to establish businesses within their communities.
