In a groundbreaking step toward building a more inclusive society, First Lady Arya Ali on Wednesday commissioned the Center for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation at Palmyra, Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The facility—the first of its kind not just in Guyana but the entire Caribbean—is housed within the Empower Guyana building and is expected to directly employ 120 persons with disabilities.
According to the First Lady, the Center represents more than just employment; it embodies a national shift in recognising inclusion as a right rather than a privilege.
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Ali painted a stirring vision of the Guyana she believes this project brings closer to reality.
“We are building a society where the child in Mahaica with a hearing disability can dream of being a coder. Where the woman in Albion with limited mobility can become a business owner. Where the young man in Rosignol, who once felt cast aside, can now earn his own living with pride. That is what revolution is. Quietly. Powerfully. Irreversibly.”
First Lady Arya Ali speaking at the commissioning (Photo: Office of the First Lady)
More than a workplace, the Center promises dignity, purpose, and the opportunity for persons with disabilities to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s development. It will also support entrepreneurs with disabilities who produce items such as snacks, paintings, and crafts. Their products—alongside others made at the Center—will be featured in a retail space on site.
“To my Guyanese family, I urge you: support this Center. Visit it. Buy from it. Talk about it. Celebrate it. This is your Center too,” the First Lady appealed.
(Photo: Office of the First Lady)
She also spotlighted Region Six as an emerging hub for social innovation:
“The East Berbice-Corentyne region—often spoken about as a rice and sugar belt—is today the frontier of inclusion. It is now the home of a business center built not as a token, but as a tool—for empowerment, for agency, for pride.
“You see, this is just the first project of its kind in our Region. And, by region I don’t mean Region Six. I mean that this Business Center is the first of its kind in the Caribbean. So, today in making history… is something we should all be immensely proud of.”
The project traces its roots to 2022, following the First Lady’s interactions with members of the disability community. Many expressed a strong desire to contribute to society but faced systemic barriers—chief among them, access to employment.
“I even tried, in futility, to lobby companies to hire persons with disabilities over the last few years. Without a job, there is no income. Without income, there is no independence. And without independence, how can one truly thrive?”
This realisation, she explained, led to the birth of the Center through her Office’s InclusAbility initiative.
(Photo: Office of the First Lady)
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to equitable development, Mrs. Ali stated:
“Our President, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and by extension the government have made it clear that development must include every citizen. That we must not just build roads and bridges, but also open pathways of opportunity for those who didn’t previously have access. And that is a commitment we are very serious about.
“This Center is an embodiment of that promise. It reflects our government’s steadfast belief that social services, infrastructure, and innovation must come together in ways that transform lives, especially for those most vulnerable among us.”
(Photo: Office of the First Lady)
The facility includes five specialised workstations, each designed to showcase the creativity and potential of its staff:
Workstation 1: Web services, including online marketing and small electronics repair
Workstation 2: Arts, crafts, and souvenir production
Workstation 3: Garment construction and screen printing
Workstation 4: Catering and commercial food preparation
Workstation 5: General-purpose creative work
Additional features include a therapy room for mental health and wellness, a cafeteria to foster community, an administrative office, and a training room to promote leadership and innovation from within.
The compound also houses a shade house, managed by staff, for additional skills development and sustainability.
“This center will provide continuous skills and business development training not only to those employed here, but to persons with disabilities across the country,” Mrs. Ali noted.
The event saw attendance from several key officials including: Mr. Ganesh Singh, Chairman of the National Commission on Disability; Mr. David Armogan, Regional Chairman of Region Six; Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service and Minister Susan Rodrigues, from the Ministry of Housing & Water.
(Photo: Office of the First Lady)
Each echoed the First Lady’s sentiments, applauding the initiative and commending the government’s growing efforts toward true inclusivity.
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