Persons who have been involuntarily returned to Guyana now have the opportunity to access assistance from the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) to start up a business.

According to Grace Pitt, National Project Officer of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Guyana office, those returnees interested in opening their own business will be referred to IPED by her office in order to access business management and entrepreneurship training and help in developing a business plan.

Once the business plan is accepted then the returnee will be provided with the startup materials for the business by IPED and IOM and the business would be monitored by both organisations.

The collaboration between IPED and IOM is now a reality following the signing of an agreement between IOM and the Guyana Government last year June, making funds available  to assist about 250 returnees.

According to Pitt, IOM is providing US$2.8M which will be used not only in Guyana but also The Bahamas and Haiti.

She told Stabroek News that the project in Guyana is being implemented in collaboration with several partners, hence IPED’s involvement. Among the partners is  the Juncata Juvant Friendly Society, which has been providing assistance to returnees for some time now.

Those persons desirous of assistance can call the IOM’s hotline- 226-4732- and it would then be decided which one of the office’s partners they should be referred to for assistance.

Apart from assistance to startup businesses, returnees would also be assisted with orientation sessions at the airport by IOM personnel, receive a hygiene package on arrival and most importantly they will be supported with temporary accommodation.

They would also be assisted in obtaining national identification, counselling, rehabilitation for substance abuse, support in locating family members and support in accessing employment.

Asked how returnees are going to be assisted in accessing employment, Pitt said that through the office’s partners contact will be made with both government and civil society.

The returnees will be provided with a list of vacancies available while the newspapers and the internet will also be scoured for vacancies. They will then be matched with prospective jobs based on their qualifications and encouraged to apply.

“Job preparation training will also be provided to returnees and they will further be supported in the development of their curricula vitae through a partner agent,” Pitt said.

And while persons living in Georgetown and its environs and in need of assistance would be referred to Juncata Juvant and IPED, those residing in Berbice may be referred to a non-governmental organisation with which IOM is currently having discussions.

The current project comes to an end in June  this year and according to Pitt at that time a decision will be taken as to whether the project will be continued and in what manner.