The Parliamentary Committee of Supply yesterday approved $2 billion for the construction of two call centres in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond was the one who explained how the $2 billion would be utilized. She said that it would cater for the construction of the shells and other co-investment projects.
Additionally, the Committee approved $300 million for the Small Business Development Fund. When questioned by Opposition MP Hemraj Rajkumar on how the funds would be used and what mechanisms are in place to achieve the objectives, Walrond explained that the screening process is one that is very robust.
“We are targeting 800 grants with this amount. Last year we achieved our target and I am being told this is the first time we achieved its target for grant distribution. We have a very robust scrutiny, robust application process as well as follow-up with the small business applicants when they are given their grants.
“We also continue to do developmental training with the applicants and the persons who receive the grant…we have (lots of) methods of verification. We do site visits before the grants are given, project proposals are done, the invoices have to be submitted for exact amounts and so it is a very robust process of verification. We don’t just hand the grants out,” the Minister assured.
She further told the Committee that the Small Business Development Bureau will continue on its path of training persons in all areas of business noting that the programme has been successful with 1300 persons benefitting in 2021. For 2022, the Ministry is aiming for 2000 beneficiaries and they would be trained in business plan writing, record keeping, financial management, marketing and other areas of business management.
