GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana’s First Lady, Arya Ali, has secured a landmark partnership with seven major utility and service providers to expand employment opportunities and improve access to essential services for persons with disabilities, through the Centre for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation at Palmyra, Region Six.
The announcement was made on Monday during a brief ceremony at the Centre, which was launched in June. Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), ENet, One Communications, MMG, MoneyGram and Western Union have begun setting up service kiosks inside the facility. They are expected to begin offering complete services to Region Six residents by January 2026.
In addition to the 90 persons already employed at the Centre, each company has committed to hiring at least one person with a disability to manage its kiosk — a move First Lady Ali described as a breakthrough after four years of sustained advocacy.
“For years, we have been urging corporate Guyana to make inclusion a lived reality,” the First Lady said. “This partnership shows what is possible when we work together for the good of all our people. The Centre was created to empower persons with disabilities, and today’s collaboration brings us even closer to that vision.”
The partnerships align with the First Lady’s broader InclusAbility Initiative, which aims to strengthen private-sector involvement in creating livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Finance Minister and Region Six MP Dr Ashni Singh praised the initiative, calling it an example of meaningful change driven by collaboration across government, civil society and the private sector.
“It represents economic empowerment at the community level and showcases the values of President Ali’s One Guyana philosophy,” he said.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar echoed that sentiment, noting that the participating companies are “partners in development,” not just service providers.
“Their presence here will make services more accessible while supporting sustainable employment for persons with disabilities,” Indar said.
Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Zulfikar Ally called the programme “an excellent example of delivering targeted, people-centred solutions” that modernise the public service while expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Chairman of the National Commission on Disability, Ganesh Singh, described the initiative as a “progressive step” toward a more inclusive society.
“This brings services closer to people, especially people with disabilities who can now use an accessible facility to pay for services,” Singh said. “I hope other private-sector entities will see this and come on board. We need all hands on deck to truly transform the disability landscape in Guyana.”
Representatives of the partnering companies also voiced support, describing the collaboration as a model of inclusive development.
The expansion of employment and service access at the Centre for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation marks another milestone in the national effort to build a more inclusive Guyana through meaningful public-private partnerships.