“Let Her Bloom”: Minister Persaud Challenges Women to Shatter the Glass Ceiling at WE LIFT 6
By| Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The sixth edition of the WE LIFT (Women’s Entrepreneurs: We lead, we innovate, we flourish together) exhibition officially bloomed on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Under the resonant theme “Let Her Bloom,” more than 460 women-owned businesses—the largest cohort to date—gathered to showcase the growing economic power of Guyanese women.
In a stirring feature address, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud urged participants to view their success not as an “anomaly,” but as a standard for the future of Guyana’s development.
A Journey of Explosive Growth
The WE LIFT Expo has evolved from a small initiative into a massive national platform in just five years.
- Inaugural Year (2021): Started with only 75 participants in a limited space.
- Current Edition (2026): Features over 460 exhibitors, representing a 513% increase in participation since its inception.
- Market Expansion: This year’s event is positioned under the concept “Made by Guyanese Women for the World,” aiming to transition micro-enterprises into small and medium-scale businesses capable of competing internationally.
Redesigning the Reality: “I Don’t See a Glass Ceiling”
Minister Persaud’s keynote address focused on dismantling the mental and systemic barriers that historically restricted women to the “conformist” box of traditional roles.
- Rejecting Limitations: The Minister challenged women to reject the concept of the “glass ceiling” entirely. “Don’t see a box. Don’t see a glass ceiling. Don’t see any of those things. I don’t see them any day,” she declared, encouraging women to pursue leadership in every sector.
- Authentic Voices: She emphasized the need to ensure women’s perspectives are architects of national legislation and frameworks, rather than being seen as mere “tokens.”
- Beyond Tradition: While beauty, fashion, and agro-processing remain staples, the 2026 expo features a surge in women entering non-traditional sectors such as construction, transportation, and oil and gas.
The “Care Economy” and Financial Independence
The government used the opening to highlight strategic investments designed to support working women.
- Childcare Investment: A $1.2 billion investment to expand childcare services (daycare and nightcare) under the Care Economy Initiative was highlighted as a tool to prevent women from having to choose between motherhood and their careers.
- Access to Finance: Women were encouraged to prepare for the upcoming Guyana Development Bank launch, which is expected to offer interest-free and collateral-free loans up to $3 million and preferential financing up to $7 million.
WE LIFT 6 Snapshot: March 6–8, 2026
| Metric | Details |
| Number of Exhibitors | 460+ Women-Owned Businesses |
| Theme | “Let Her Bloom” |
| Sectors Represented | Agro-processing, Fashion, Construction, Beauty, Logistics. |
| Flagship Initiatives | Business Incubator, WIIN, GWLI, Care Economy. |
The exhibition continues through Sunday, March 8, with the public urged to visit and support locally-made products as the event cements its place as the premier platform for advancing gender equality in the Guyanese economy.
