VPAC commends Demerara Bank for youth entrepreneurship initiative

Vigilant Political Action Committee (V-PAC) has commended Demerara Bank Limited for launching the Dream. Build. Lead. Innovation Tank, a $10 million programme supporting young entrepreneurs in Guyana.

The initiative provides up to ten start-ups with non-repayable grants of $1 million each, alongside mentorship, training, and access to business networks. VPAC described the programme as a clear demonstration of private sector leadership in building a stronger, more inclusive national economy.

“This is more than a bank project, it is a demonstration of what the private sector can and should do to build a stronger, more inclusive national economy,” VPAC said in a statement on Facebook.

While applauding Demerara Bank, VPAC stressed that no single institution can carry this responsibility alone. The political body called on all major companies in Guyana, both local and international, to invest meaningfully in the country’s youth, blending financing with mentorship, reaching hinterland and rural communities, and ensuring opportunities for women and young people.

“To the young people of this country, VPAC says the opportunities are out there, and they are meant for you. Step forward, apply, learn, and build. Your ideas, with the right support, can grow into businesses that create jobs, wealth, and pride for your families and your communities,” the statement continued.

VPAC also reaffirmed its own commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship, pledging to conduct financial literacy workshops nationwide, ensuring that all Guyanese can access information, training, and support to leverage opportunities such as the Innovation Tank.

The organisation concluded by urging Corporate Guyana to follow Demerara Bank’s example, stating: “As the old adage says, it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a meal for one day. Demerara Bank has shown us what that looks like in practice. Now, VPAC calls on all of Corporate Guyana to follow this example with even greater energy and ambition, so together we can build a future where no Guyanese is left behind.”