Entrepreneurs living with disability secure $4M in interest-free loans

In yet another groundbreaking stride towards financial autonomy, a group of Persons Living with Permanent Disabilities recently accessed $4 million in interest-free loans to expand their entrepreneurial pursuits.
Facilitated by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry/Small Business Bureau (SBB) revolving fund, eight recipients received $500,000, providing a vital support to individuals who have often encountered significant hurdles in securing financial backing for their ventures.
Among the beneficiaries are Mohammed Shameer, a visually impaired entrepreneur and owner of a grocery shop at Grove, East Bank of Demerara. Shameer highlighted the challenge of distribution networks favouring larger establishments over smaller shops like his, necessitating inconvenient trips to alternative markets due to his disability.

“My challenge is that the distribution trucks do not come to the small shops. They only go to the Chinese stores and supply them… it’s hard for me and it is very difficult because of my disability and having to take taxis and go to the black market to buy stuff”, he said.
Similarly, Odessa Evans, who runs a poultry business in Annandale, East Coast Demerara, expressed her long-held aspiration to expand her enterprise, driven by her profound affection for animals. For Evans, the loan represents more than just monetary support; it signifies a belief in her potential to thrive as a businesswoman.
“I enjoy taking care of chicks. I have a strong passion for my business and my dream is to go further in my business and expand my business so that I can bring in more products for my community”, she said.
Meanwhile, Asif Khan, a 27-year-old individual living with visual impairment, emphasised the loan’s significance in providing not only financial assistance but also a sense of independence and opportunity to realise his ambitions in his computer-based electronics venture.
“My business is Khan’s electronics and it is computer-based… one of the problems we have is access to capital and with the loan, it gives you that independence and it gives you that opportunity to have the capital to set up your business”, he said.
The decision by the Small Business Bureau to extend loans reflects a commitment to equipping these entrepreneurs with the necessary resources for success. Other beneficiaries include Andrea Hendricks, Lennox Bobb-Semple, Roberta English, and Lawrence Braithwaite.
During the event, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, lauded the administration’s efforts in supporting Persons Living with Disabilities, framing the initiative as a pivotal step forward.
Persaud elaborated on the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Commerce to establish a revolving fund with flexible access and no interest rates.
Echoing this sentiment, Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, emphasised the program’s alignment with the government’s vision of inclusivity under the banner of “One Guyana,” ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the nation’s development trajectory.
The fund offers easy accessibility, allowing business owners living with disabilities to borrow up to $500,000 exemplifying a pioneering approach to fostering economic empowerment and social integration.