Pres Ali launches “game-changing” shade house project in Georgetown

…50 women in Tiger Bay to benefit

As part of a commitment to create economic opportunities for women and young people, the Guyana Government has rolled out a new shade house initiative in Georgetown.
Targeting single and young women within the Tiger Bay, Kingston and Cummingsburg areas, the project will see at least 50 20-by-20-foot shade houses being established in those locations. This project will be supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development in close partnership with the private sector.
President Dr Irfaan Ali launched this initiative on Friday evening at the One Guyana Kitchen on Main Street, where a model shade house was set up as a demonstration for participants.
Outfitted with a trestle and two tanks, the shade houses are estimated at $150,000 each.

According to President Ali, participants can use, for example, their $100,000 cash grant that the Government will be distributing this year, and the Government has secured a no-interest loan for the remaining $50,000 from the suppliers.
“The Government will come in to support you,” he assured. “We want to demonstrate…when you get your $100,000 grant, how the Government and the private sector want to work with you in the community… The idea here is to translate this grant that we spoke about into wealth creation and to demonstrate in a real way how we’ll be able to transform lives and how we’ll be able to build business opportunities.”
The Head of State explained that the 50 beneficiaries would only need to put in roughly an hour of work each day at the shade house. For instance, a career woman can spend about 25 minutes at the shade house in the morning and head to work after, then another 35 minutes in the afternoon.
He further pointed out that women, on average, can earn approximately $1 million with a six-crop cycle.
“So, that is what this gives you. And all it calls for is commitment. It will take a maximum of an hour of your time every day,” the President posited.

Game changer
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says this initiative piloted by President Ali is aimed at empowering citizens. He pointed out that while agriculture has historically been a more male-dominated job, the investments being made by the Government have seen a significant shift in this practice.
“When you go around the country and you look at the agriculture sector, more and more we are seeing more females are taking part now in agriculture. Why? Because we are making agriculture more modern, we are making it easier… [And with] today’s project here, this model project, you will see how you can earn easily… So, this here will be a game-changer for you,” Mustapha stressed.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the president of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kathy Smith, who said this project will complement another initiative that the Chamber is implementing across the country to support female-led agro-processing operations.
“This is an entire ecosystem about to work out for the benefit of Guyanese women… So I’m quite happy that more shade houses are coming on board, which will ensure that our centre continues to have a space for women…”
“This is a game-changer for women and women in agri-processing because we have been noticing a lot of women are getting into agriculture. And you know why? It’s because Guyanese women are always creative. We know to plant, we know to farm, we know to reap, we can sell, and it’s about time we get an opportunity to package those and not just put them on shelves in Guyanese supermarkets but in regional and international supermarkets,” the GCCI President stated.
Also speaking during the project launch on Friday evening was Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand, who revealed that single and young women comprise the 50 beneficiaries.
“What the president wants to do is to make sure we can restore some order and beauty… while we keep the Guyanese charm and the hospitality that we are known for,” she said, adding that this is a hybrid approach that combines restoration, rebuilding and new construction.
According to Manickchand, improvements in the area already include upgraded surroundings, regular garbage collection, new waste bins, and improved recreational facilities. Additionally, sections from the Guyana Stores to the seawall and from High Street to Charmichael Street are also set to undergo significant revitalisation.
“So, that’s a little bit of what’s happening. We’re very, very, very excited about this collaboration… because of the potential it has to change your life by constructively engaging and utilising resources that the State is going to provide, but in a long-term economic way for you,” the Minister posited.
President Ali is undertaking this project with support from the King’s Foundation as part of efforts to restore Georgetown as a “Garden City”.