Guyana Together: Leaving no one behind
by Kerensa Gravesande-Bart
Kerensa Gravesande-Bart is a first-generation, Guyanese woman entrepreneur and devoted mother. Alongside her husband, Lloyd Bart, she has co-created two thriving companies that have left an indelible mark on the oil and gas industry in Guyana. She is also a Co-Founder and Former President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG). She has won accolades like the inaugural “Women in Business Award” from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in 2018 and later served as a Councillor of GCCI and Chair of the Membership and Diversity Committee, organising collaborative activities like the Women in Law Enforcement Summit, and championing diversity initiatives, like the first Pride Month Mixer hosted by GCCI in June 2023 to help foster a more inclusive business community in Guyana.
As the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) is being celebrated under the theme “No One Left Behind: Equality, Freedom and Justice for All,” I reflect on my journey to help bring Guyana Together.
As a business woman in our nation, it is important to stand for the policies that protect our workers, build our communities and ensure our economy thrives.
Five years ago this November, I helped found the first Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Guyana and the Caribbean because I wanted to be an advocate for women in business and champion empowerment of women entrepreneurs.
Today I share my support for Guyana Together – the grassroots campaign to increase support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Guyanese. I’m proud to be part of a campaign that is sparking a national conversation about how each of us can help to ensure that Guyana is a place where everyone feels included and welcomed.
As a business leader, it makes sense to be part of this initiative. Guyana is strongest when we include everyone in our workforce – and when our businesses have the talent and skills they need to move our economy forward. That’s why so many businesses across Guyana have endorsed this campaign. The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Black Entrepreneurs Association are among the founding members of Guyana Together and we are grateful to have their support.
The Guyanese economy is at a turning point. Estimates show that our economy will grow exponentially in the coming years, and Guyana is opening our doors to foreign investment like never before. As the eyes of the global economy shift to Guyana, we have an opportunity to show the world that our country is a welcoming and beautiful place for all to live, travel, and do business.
Link to op-ed: OPINION: Guyana Together: Leaving no one behind – Demerara
Waves Online News- Guyana