‘Empowering women together’

― Women in Business Expo launched

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Women in Business Expo was launched on Thursday at the Pegasus Hotel. The event is in its fifth year and was attended by the Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence who gave some key remarks.

Minister Lawrence affirmed continued and unwavering support for events that are coordinated by and to empower women. She commended the event, exemplifying the fact that it has allowed more women to gain the financial freedom of being a business owner.

Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence [right] is given a tour by Sonia Noel [left] of the varying booths

Bibi Ali, a businesswoman and writer from Windsor Castle speaking the DPI

Scene from the Women in Business Expo

Scene from the Women in Business Expo

Henrique Morales, Marketing representative

“I am quite certain this upcoming exhibition would be much larger than the one before because I have been able to see so many women across the country getting involved in business one way or another,” she remarked.

The number of exhibitors this year is expected to surpass last year’s number, which was around 70 persons. It has grown to the extent that the General Manager of the Pegasus has agreed to grant even more space for the event.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) took a small tour of those booths set up at the launch. The first to catch our eye was that of a businesswoman, Bibi Ali, who told her story in her brand-new auto-biography.

“My story is about a girl from Demerara whose parents are very poor. My mom had seven children, and my father was an alcoholic. My father committed suicide, and I was very sad, living in a sad home. Planting became my escape. I started to plant, not realising that planting became my friend and from my friend I realised that I could sell and I could make money. I think that this is what built me, to become the businesswoman I am today,” Ali relayed.

While the focus is women in business, these women depend on their support system, like Annie Morales who, having to attend to other duties, left her display in the supportive hands of her brother Henrique Morales. Their business focus, a unique one.

“We are dealing strictly with Brazilian products that come directly from Brazil. We have skin and hair products for different ethnicities, also fragrances for both men and women. Clothing; we’re going to be branding soon the Pitbull, again for both men and women and footwear for both.”

The expo originated in Georgetown, but an exclusive from Her Worship the Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell revealed that it could be making its debut there soon. She explained, “Next year, for Linden town week, we are attempting to have this same show, but we are having it in the town week, where we will give the women in business in linden a chance to showcase their products.”