Youth Business Trust

The United Progressive Party’s (UPP) manifesto has detailed a new initiative, the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Business Trust (ABYBT), which seeks to offer young people the opportunity to establish and maintain their own businesses, through proper training.

In communicating the vision of the party, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Winston Williams, under whose unit the ABYBT is expected to fall, explained that the program will be introduced when the UPP wins the election later this week. According to the manifesto and assertions by Williams, the ABYBT will include business start up capital, subject to appropriate vetting and project oversight requirements, as well as business affiliated grants for youths after a six months training process.

“Rather than the youth looking for employment, the government is giving them an opportunity which ties in to the whole idea of small business creation,” Williams explained.

At the end of the six month training period, individuals will be able to access the business trust funding to set up their own business. After the first disbursements are paid back to the government, the young entrepreneur can always re-apply for a second installation to expand their business.

The prospective business owner will also be assigned mentors, preferably seasoned business operators, to assist them in their path to self employment.

A number of other youth oriented programs were also outlined in the Declaration of Intent that includes a youth apprenticeship program in agriculture and a single mother’s cottage industry program. The latter is aimed at increasing employment opportunities for young single mothers with limited or no skills.

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