Jonathan Rampersaud, a 22-year-old Berbice mathematics teacher and national cricketer, is helping small-business owners prepare loan applications for the Guyana Development Bank as demand for his services surges.

Rampersaud, of Portuguese Quarter, Port Mourant, teaches at Manchester Secondary School and runs Innovative Business Solutions. The business prepares proposals and loan applications and assists start-ups with registration, financial documentation and compliance requirements.

Under the bank's stated terms, loans carry no collateral requirement and zero per cent interest, with a maximum of $3 million.
For Rampersaud, the zero-collateral condition is the most significant feature.

“It's a great initiative to have a bank that requires zero collateral. That must be a big thing because what happened is that small business, some entrepreneurs don't have assets,” he told Ignite News.

He added that the monthly repayment would be affordable for a business receiving the maximum loan, provided it generates sufficient income.
Rampersaud learnt of the bank through social media and began researching how his business could support entrepreneurs.

“I find that it's a good initiative for small businesses because what happened is that many a times, small businesses are being at a disadvantage, and we could say that small businesses is the root of our economy,” he explained.

Since he began promoting the service, several people have sought his help, and he urged prospective applicants to learn the bank's requirements and gather the necessary documents before applying.

The response has been overwhelming, he admitted.

“Well, there is a lot of people that have been reaching out to me right now. I kind of like find it hard to cope with everything that's going on,” Rampersaud noted.

Much of the interest in Region Six has come from crop and livestock farmers, as well as grocery shop owners, barbers and nail technicians. He believes the clients are best placed to shape their own proposals.

“I think that they have the context of how to run a business and they are the person who are bringing forward the ideas, and I try to help them to craft the idea to fit whatever necessary the bank is requiring,” he reasoned.

Start-ups are first guided through registration and compliance before the loan process begins.

“I actually help with registering the business. So, if you're a startup business, I help you register the business. I advise you how to go about getting your compliances, how to get necessary documents,” he said.

Rampersaud's own path to the business began at the University of Guyana, where he graduated in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. An interest in accounting led him to establish the venture.

“I've completed my bachelor's in Business Management. So, when I started my master's in Accounting, I kind of find it interesting in accounting. So, I tried to blend both with accounting and business,” he recalled.

He balances teaching, cricket and the business through careful scheduling.

“It's going great. The most important thing is time. So, utilizing your time properly, it will help you,” he observed.

The teacher also drew on his own schooling when speaking of his pupils. He felt unmotivated as a student and now encourages those in his classes to stay focused.
“I had to take my education into my own hands,” he recounted.

His advice to young people is to look beyond the immediate.

“Just think about five years ahead. Things that you could achieve in long term and not just in short term,” he advised.

Looking ahead himself, Rampersaud plans to move into real estate and is pursuing a diploma in evaluation.