-by David Clarke
Indigenous youth are being encouraged to look beyond traditional economic activities and explore technology, tourism and cultural entrepreneurship as pathways to economic independence.
The call comes as access to financing through the Guyana Development Bank is expected to create new opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
Indigenous leader Lennox Shuman says the Guyana Development Bank could provide an important boost to young entrepreneurs.
“Young people only need to start instead of, and I don’t want to sound too derogatory with this, but instead of running TikTok and creating financing for other people based on views, why don’t we start occupying some of these tech spaces?” he said.
Tourism is another area he believes can offer significant opportunities, particularly by developing speexperiences rather than competing in already crowded markets.
“When we look at tourism, it cannot be looked at as a stock approach. We have to find the niches where people want to come, they want variety, and you offer that variety,” he said.
Shuman says Indigenous youth should look at these opportunities together, using education to build skills, financing to establish businesses, and technology to reach markets.