Six persons living with disabilities on Wednesday received loans worth $3 million through a revolving fund aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce said.
The cheques were handed over at the Small Business Bureau by Minister Susan Rodrigues and Permanent Secretary Roger Rogers. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, provides loans of up to $500,000 with zero collateral, zero interest and a repayment period of four years.
Rodrigues said the programme reflected the government’s ‘One Guyana’ philosophy, prioritising inclusivity regardless of “race, gender, geography, or physical ability.”
“At its core, this fund is about ensuring that every citizen, regardless of ability or disability, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
The minister highlighted the diversity of ventures among recipients, including cellphone sales, landscaping, catering and retail, and stressed that accountability and sustainability were critical for the fund’s success.
“This revolving fund creates a cycle of empowerment, where each success story contributes to the empowerment of others, thereby creating a self-sustaining engine of progress,” she said, adding that the ministry’s monitoring team would follow up on progress.
Since its launch in 2023, the fund has disbursed 41 loans valued at more than $20 million, with 14 loans worth $7 million issued so far in 2025.
“I encourage you to utilise these funds wisely and for their intended purpose. I look forward to hearing your success stories and to seeing the sustained growth of this fund, so that many more can benefit in the years ahead,” Rodrigues said.
