THE Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) and the National Entrepreneurship Development Company Ltd (Nedco) distributed grants to 202 aspiring entrepreneurs at the Government Campus Plaza in Port of Spain, on December 17.
The grant distribution ceremony, which marked the third and largest cohort of the year, aimed to support the development of small businesses across Trinidad and Tobago.
Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings addressed the audience. He was visibly emotional owing to the death of his colleague and friend Lisa Morris-Julian on December 16.
Morris-Julian, MP for D’Abadie/O’Meara and Minister in the Ministry of Education, died in a house fire along with two of her children.
Cummings said, “I couldn’t think of a better way for us to invest the taxpayers’ resources than investing in you, people of TT, who are determined that you are going to step out and take a risk and get involved in business.”
He urged recipients to make the most of the opportunity.
“Sometimes we feel that we have it all figured out until we’re exposed to new perspectives. I hope you use the knowledge gained from this training to run your operations better,” he said.
“In the quietness and stillness of your night, as you ponder on these things, you take a thing or two from what they’ve told you and at the end of the day you come up with what is best.”
Cummings also advised recipients to seek feedback from peers and mentors.
“Kindness and love is something we need a little bit more of in our community.”
He said looking at the comments on social media on the death of Morris-Julian, he questioned the humanity of TT.
“God help us in this country…when did we get like this? we can’t look at a tragic situation without getting down in the gutter…We need partnership, some sort of young-love vision of what partnership should be.”
He said the programme demonstrated to TT the seriousness of what the ministry and Nedco aimed to accomplish.
“A lot of people did not believe we were going to do it.”
He reminded recipients the funds were not to be used on ham and grog but rather, to invest in their businesses.
The Micro and Small Business Start-Up Grant is led by MYDNS and administered by Nedco. It offers grant funding of up to $20,000 along with training, mentorship and business advisory services.
Nedco’s CEO Calvin Maurice said, “These 202 entrepreneurs will generate $197 million. Think about that. These are 202 stories of quality, 202 pathways to economic empowerment and 202 opportunities to transform our national economy.”
Maurice said the financial impact demonstrated the tangible economic benefits expected from the initiative, supporting the government’s economic diversification agenda.
“Each and every one of you represents a dream, a vision and most importantly, a commitment to transforming the world. Since its inception earlier this year, the grant scheme has received substantial subscription, which indicates its relevance and success.”
He added the demogra
