Women-led shade house project launched at Tiger Bay

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Residents of Tiger Bay gathered on Friday afternoon at the One Guyana Kitchen on Main Street in Georgetown for the launch of a community-based agriculture project aimed at increasing household incomes and expanding economic opportunities.
The initiative will see the construction of 30-by-20-foot shade houses across Tiger Bay, Kingston and Cummingsburg over the coming months. The facilities will be managed by women, with a particular focus on single women.
The project is being implemented with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, in partnership with private sector stakeholders.
Addressing residents at the launch, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said, “The idea here is to translate this grant (cash) that we spoke about, into wealth creation and to demonstrate in a real way, how we’ll be able to transform lives and … build business opportunities.”
President Ali said beneficiaries would work collaboratively to establish and manage the shade houses, fostering cooperation within the community. He explained that participants would rotate responsibilities over a six- to eight-week period as crops are cultivated and prepared for harvesting.
“If we do 50 of these, we expect the entire 50 beneficiaries to help each other to establish the shade houses,” he said.
The president stressed that the programme was designed to move beyond short-term assistance, noting that it was intended to generate sustainable income, build skills and boost confidence in keeping with the government’s broader economic agenda.
He told participants that, on average, beneficiaries could earn approximately $1 million over a six-crop cycle.
The Tiger Bay initiative is being rolled out alongside similar projects in other communities, including Yarrowkabra, where 50 additional shade houses are planned under the same model.
The agriculture programme forms part of a wider effort to restore and enhance Kingston, Tiger Bay and Cummingsburg, which Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand described as “Neighbourhood Love,” a term coined by President Ali.
“What the president wants to do is to make sure we can restore some order and beauty… while we keep the Guyana charm and the hospitality that we are known for,” Manickchand said, adding that the approach blends restoration, rebuilding and new construction.
She said improvements already underway include upgraded surroundings, regular garbage collection, new waste bins and improved recreational facilities. Areas from Guyana Stores to the seawall, and from High Street to Charmichael Street, are also slated for significant revitalisation.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said the project demonstrated how agriculture could be integrated into the daily routines of working people, including professionals.
“Start 25 minutes in the morning, 35 minutes in the afternoon, one hour per day. You can earn [more] to supplement your income,” he said.
Mustapha said the initiative was helping to change perceptions of agriculture while encouraging greater participation by women and young people.
Beneficiaries will receive technical support from officers of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Private sector partners, including the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), are also supporting the initiative. GCCI President Kathy Smith attended the launch.
In November 2025, President Ali visited Tiger Bay and announced plans to transform the community into Guyana’s first “model neighbourhood.” Friday’s launch marked another step in the government’s broader redevelopment programme. (DPI)