Guyana’s transition to renewable energy is creating new opportunities for inclusion, as persons living with disabilities benefit from the Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme.
At a recent feedback session held at the Grand Coastal Hotel, participants praised the initiative for providing meaningful access to training and employment within the growing solar energy sector.
The programme, implemented by Guyana Power and Light Inc., takes a two-pronged approach—building technical capacity while creating job opportunities, particularly for women and persons living with disabilities.
Beneficiaries told NCN News the initiative offered a supportive and empowering environment, allowing them to develop new skills in areas such as project management, procurement, logistics, and technical operations.
Communications Apprentice, Gabriel Gilkes expressed, “It’s been great especially a person with disability to get that chance to show what I’m made of. A lot of times persons with disability you don’t get that chance to show your ability.”
Management Specialist Chitra Singh Samaroo says the programme is designed to build local capacity and promote inclusion, aiming for gender parity and fair representation of persons with disabilities within the workforce. The GUYSOL initiative, funded by the Guyana-Norway partnership with a budget of over 83 million US dollars, supports the construction of eight new solar farms in rural regions.
“We have to deliver eight solar farms, two in region two, one in Region 5, two in region 6 and 3 in region 10, so far we have completed five successfully and they are operationalise within regions 2 5 and 6 ,” she explained.
The programme has seen steady participation, with twenty individuals—including persons living with disabilities—benefitting as Guyana advances both sustainable energy and inclusive development.