Fulfilling promises, helping to build future entrepreneurs
─ residents of Crane receive bus shed
─ advised to access loans and grants from Small Business Bureau
DPI, Guyana, Friday, November 15, 2019
Residents, particularly school children, in the community of Crane, Region 3 now have the convenience of a bus shed when using public transportation.
On Thursday, during a community engagement in Crane, Hon. Haimraj Rajkumar, Minister of Business, commissioned the shed. The construction of the shelter is the fulfilment of a promise made by the Social Protection Minister, Hon. Amna Ally.
“I believe it is essential… students and workers can have shelters, and it will make it easier to access transportation” Minister Rajkumar told the residents.
The bus shed, he further stated, is an excellent gesture to the people of Crane and that the government is happy to fulfil the promises to its citizens.
“We don’t just make promises, we fulfil them” he stated.
The Business Minister also committed to having additional streetlights installed in the area. Minister Rajkumar, who is an Attorney-at-Law, also took time to provide legal advice to some residents concerning housing and land issues, during his meeting.
He also urged entrepreneurs in the community to apply to the Small Business Bureau (SBB) for loans and grants to help with the expansion of their business ventures. One resident, Tiffany Douglas shared that she benefitted from an SBB grant of $200,000 to assist with the construction of a building to house her cosmetology business. When she shared her reservation about applying for a loan, Minister Rajkumar encouraged her to take the loan and work along with the bureau to repay the loan on time.
Maureen Hope, a resident of the community who mentioned that 31 young women were trained in garment construction and needed financing to get their business off the ground, was also encouraged to approach bureau for the necessary assistance.
“Guyanese entrepreneurs are willing to develop themselves, and they must have faith to take that next step that will develop their businesses, their communities and in turn the country as well,” Minister Rajkumar stated.