First Lady Arya Ali has formed a major new partnership with Guyana’s leading utility and service companies to boost employment and improve access to essential services for people with disabilities. The collaboration announced on Monday at the Centre for Equity, Opportunity, and Innovation in Palmyra, Region Six, represents one of the most important steps in the First Lady’s effort to promote greater national inclusion.
The Centre—launched in June 2025—will soon feature service kiosks operated by Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), ENet, One Communications, MMG, MoneyGram, and Western Union. These kiosks are expected to be fully operational by January 2026, offering residents of Region Six a variety of services in one accessible location.
Currently, the Centre employs 90 people, and with this new partnership, each company has agreed to hire at least one person with a disability to operate its kiosk. This marks a significant milestone for the First Lady’s ongoing advocacy through her InclusAbility Initiative, which has continually encouraged the private sector to adopt more inclusive hiring practices.
For years, we have been urging corporate Guyana to make inclusion a real and everyday experience. This partnership shows what can be achieved when we work together for the benefit of all our people. The Centre was created to empower individuals with disabilities, and today’s collaboration with these seven companies brings us closer to that goal,” the First Lady shared during the ceremony.
Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh commended the collaborative effort, emphasizing its alignment with broader national development objectives. “It represents economic empowerment at the community level and showcases the values of President Ali’s One Guyana philosophy,” he said, highlighting how quickly the First Lady transitioned from idea to action.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar highlighted the crucial role utility providers have in the country’s development. “Our utility companies are not just service providers. They are partners in development. Their presence here will make services more accessible while supporting sustainable employment for persons with disabilities,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, called the initiative “an excellent example of delivering targeted, people-centered solutions and increasing job opportunities for persons with disabilities, which is essential to a modern, inclusive public service.”
Ganesh Singh, Chairman of the National Commission on Disability, commended the initiative as a meaningful expansion of accessible services and opportunities. “This brings services closer to people, especially those with disabilities, who can now use an accessible facility to pay for services. I hope other private-sector entities will see this and join in employing more people with disabilities. We need all hands on deck to transform the disability landscape in Guyana, truly,” he said.
Representatives of the partner companies shared similar views, describing the initiative as a model of “inclusive development” that strengthens community ties and enhances service delivery.
This latest expansion at the Centre for Equity, Opportunity, and Innovation marks another key step in Guyana’s broader effort to create a society where equal opportunity is the norm, not the exception.
First Lady Arya Ali has been very active in leading numerous projects in Guyana, especially those focused on addressing disabilities among Guyanese. No one quite like her has served as First Lady. Likewise, the President and First Lady have truly shown they care for the people of Guyana.