Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir handed out grants valued $65,000 each to 107 single parents, from region five and six who recently participated in the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) empowerment programme.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the awardees participated in training in several areas for four months and the grants are expected to help them to start small businesses.

Nadir said the grant is a demonstration of government’s commitment to helping single parents succeed. GINA said 49 recipients hailed from Region Five and 58 from Region Six.

Regional Chairman Harrinarine Baldeo said the exercise is a conscious effort by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to look at the needs of the people and how they can be improved. He said too the assistance helps to lay a good foundation for the single parents and will enable them to improve and expand in their field of training.

The participants can purchase items they need from stores like Courts, Guyana Stores Ltd, Payless and Giftland. Some of the recipients told GINA that they are grateful for the opportunity to earn a living.

According to GINA, under the Single Parent Assistance Programme, single parents are able to train and educate themselves through the BIT programme. The ministry has also been assisting single parents who work with day care vouchers. It also plans to host an exhibition on women entrepreneurship at the Sophia Complex that will give women an opportunity to showcase their produce and at the same time organise sales.

Additionally, on June 4, a particular bank will launch a special financial facility that will allow women to borrow as much as $200,000 without collateral. This is initiative is also designed to help women to expand their businesses.