Women in Business…Fashion Designer Jackie De Souza is ready to ‘step out’ again

LUCAS STOCK INDEX The LSI gained 1.09 percent in trading in the second week of May 2012. All the stocks that traded recorded gains. Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (BTI) had the smallest gain of 0.31 percent while Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) had the largest with 3.23 percent. Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) gained 1.87 percent and Banks DIH (DIH) gained 2.84 percent. As a result, the difference between the index and the yield of the 364-day Treasury Bills has increased to over six percentage points.

Beginning in this issue, Stabroek Business will be publishing a series of interviews with women owners of business enterprises. Our interviewees are selected at random and we will, as far as possible, endeavour to feature women involved in various types of business enterprises and drawn from various regions of the country. Our goal is to illustrate the significant contribution that Guyanese women continue to make to the growth of the business sector and to draw attention to the challenges which they confront and in accomplishments which they realize in their respective pursuits.

Much later in her career than perhaps she might have expected, Jackeline DeSouza is beginning to step out of the shadow of the bigger names in her profession to bring her talent and experience to bear in the local fashion industry.

At 51, she has only just ‘graduated’ from operating within the confines of her home to opening the doors of Uni-Q-D Design at 116 Barr Street, Kitty. Having emerged, she says, from disappointments and tragedies that would have long ‘killed off’ less determined people, she appears ready for what she acknowledges could be a tough road ahead.

Jackie is banking on her considerable experience and widely recognized talent to