!nnovate Guyana, an initiative of the Guyana Economic Development Trust, which supports innovation in science, technology, and agriculture, is pleased to announce the 2022 awards for two of its programmes, the Guyana Innovation Prize, fully funded by Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), and the Economic Development Accelerator (EDA), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission.
Both programme cohorts began in 2021, and the innovators who signed on received robust training, technical support and one-on-one coaching. The programmes are intended to help catapult innovative startups and existing businesses forward.
The Guyana Innovation Prize, which commenced in July of last year, saw an abundance of ideas submitted for acceptance to the programme. However, ultimately, three standout innovators advanced to the finals and have each been awarded a USD10,000 grant to commercialize their breakthrough ideas. This programme has been offered annually since 2018, and is open to all Guyanese in Guyana.
Damian Blackburn, CEO of GTT reaffirmed the company’s support towards innovation in Guyana. He said, “Specific to growth and development in a country is innovation – a key customer promise of GTT to innovate for all in our country.”
He added, “As a company, we recognise that innovation goes beyond technology and it includes skin care, agriculture, solid waste management and pharmaceuticals. I’d like to congratulate GEDT for this initiative and the innovators for these really great concepts. I look forward to supporting what’s to come for Guyana.”
The 2022 Guyana Innovation Prize Awardees are Jubilante Cutting of Guyana Animation Network (GAN) and GAN Studios; Vickacy Williams of Aurora Technologies (Decorative Construction Tiles Made from Plastic Waste); and Lisa Dublin of EcoCarb GY (Activated Carbon to Clean Drinking Water Made from Coconut Waste).
The Economic Development Accelerator was developed specifically to enhance existing, commercially successful agriculturally manufactured products by supporting their growth through exports. A total of 43 products were submitted for the programme, which commenced in September 2021. Of that number, 15 agro-processors were shortlisted as finalists for the programme award, offered as a result of support from the USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission. These agro-processors benefited from training, technical assistance, and one-one-one coaching, in collaboration with international partners. Ultimately, 5 agro-processors will each receive a USD30,000 grant to accelerate exports, thereby supporting “Brand Guyana.”
“Small and growing businesses are key to Guyana’s economic development. With world class training and technical assistance provided under this initiative, these outstanding Guyanese companies are leading the way for developing a stronger agro-processing sector in the region. ” said Regional Representative for USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Clinton D. White.
The 2022 Economic Development Accelerator Awardees are Tasmin Pellew of Taz Foods (Cookup-in-a-Cup); Grace Parris of Asdel Foods (Prepared Packaged Pepperpot); Osric Hacker of Blue Ribbon Mfg. (Vanilla Extract); Dianna Plowell of Pleasurable Flavors (Shake N’ Fry Fish and Poultry Coating) and Dwayne Wade of Country Style Foods (Plantain Chips).
Commercialization of standout, scalable ideas undoubtedly contributes to economic growth and development. Encouraging and supporting the development of new ideas and the launching of businesses from those ideas is integral to wealth creation for the innovators and the society. Thus, !nnovate Guyana, with support from GTT and USAID, is demonstrating that Guyana is a place where thinkers and doers live and thrive.
“We Guyanese can succeed at important endeavors right in our home country while making an impact in the world, with the necessary support and access. This is the mission of the Guyana Economic Development Trust and our initiative !nnovate Guyana. We are thrilled to congratulate the awardees and all the participants in both programmes, and we look forward to continuing to support them as they shine and help put Guyana on the map with their innovations,” said CEO of GEDT, Oslene Carrington.
About USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean (USAID/ESC)
For almost 40 years, USAID has provided development assistance to the Caribbean region to advance: “Safer, more prosperous Caribbean communities.”In an effort to address these critical issues, USAID provides assistance that advances private sector growth, reduces youth involvement in crime and violence, increases epidemic control of Covid-19 and HIV/AIDS, strengthens governance accountability and civil society, improves agricultural production, and supports environmental resilience. USAID/ESC implements activities in Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, the Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, and Guyana.
About GTT
The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company is a fixed Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) based in Guyana, South America. It is the largest provider of telecommunication services in Guyana with a subscriber base exceeding three hundred thousand in a country with an average population of seven hundred thousand. The company recently launched its GTT customer promises under the new vision – to improve life experiences to every home and business by 2025. These promises are – strengthen our community, reliably connect our customers and innovate for all in our country.
About !nnovate Guyana
!nnovate Guyana is a platform that showcases Guyanese inventiveness. !nnovate Guyana consists of the Guyana Innovation Prize, which supportsr ag-science and ag-tech startups; !nnovate Guyana TV on YouTube; the Economic Development Accelerator for growing agro-processors; the Global Entrepreneurship Network Guyana chapter; and the Executive Volunteer Corps, which engages the diaspora and friends of Guyana to assist innovators in Guyana’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. !nnovate Guyana is offered by the Guyana Economic Development Trust (GEDT), an independent U.S. and Guyana initiative.