The Region 3 Chamber of Commerce and Industry is launching a Junior Chamber in September 2025. This initiative will empower Guyanese youth with mentorship, leadership training, and real-world business skills to prepare them for entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and roles in Guyana’s growing economy.
Host: Welcome back to Voices of Progress, where we bring you stories shaping Guyana’s future. Today, we’re joined by Mr. Theon Alleyne, Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry—better known as R3CCI. He’s here to talk about a bold new initiative just announced—the launch of the Region 3 Junior Chamber of Commerce. Theon, welcome. Theon: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Host: Let’s get straight into it. What exactly is the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and why now? Theon: Great question. The Junior Chamber of Commerce is a structured program for young people between the ages of 16 and 30. It’s designed to equip them with practical business skills, mentorship, and leadership training. We see Region 3 growing fast—roads, schools, housing, investment—but if our youth don’t grow with it, we risk missing out on a generation of innovators and leaders.
Host: You made the announcement at the BIT Try-A-Skill Exhibition. Tell us a bit about that. Theon: Yes, we announced the launch on July 30 at West Central Mall, during the Board of Industrial Training’s Try-A-Skill Exhibition. It was the perfect place. Youth were exploring trades like commercial food prep, electrical installation, even heavy-duty equipment operation. You could see the energy, the talent. We wanted to harness that and give them a longer-term path—beyond training, into entrepreneurship and civic leadership.
Host: That’s powerful. What will young people gain by joining the Junior Chamber? Theon: First, access to mentorship—direct guidance from business leaders in the region. Second, real business training—how to manage money, pitch ideas, build a brand. Third, leadership development. And finally, a seat at the table. We’re not just building participants. We’re preparing tomorrow’s board members, CEOs, and civic advocates.
Host: You mentioned something at the launch—that Guyana is at a moment of transformation. Could you expand on that? Theon: Absolutely. We’re seeing massive investment in Region 3. From the Schoonord-Crane Highway to the new power plants and ports. That’s the visible infrastructure. But the invisible infrastructure—our people, especially our youth—that’s what will sustain this growth. The Junior Chamber is our investment in that future.
Host: How can young people get involved? Theon: It’s simple. Go to r3cci.org/junior-chamber. There’s a form to sign up. We’re also working with schools, vocational centers, and youth councils to spread the word.
Host: What role do you see the private sector playing in this? Theon: A central one. This is not just an R3CCI initiative—it’s a call to action for every business in the region. We need our members to mentor, to offer apprenticeships, to give real-world opportunities. If we build together, everyone wins.
Host: Final thoughts, Theon? Theon: This isn’t a program. It’s a movement. Young people in Region 3 are ready. They don’t just need access—they need belief, structure, and a way forward. The Junior Chamber is that way forward.
Host: Thank you, Theon. This was inspiring. Theon: Thank you for having me. The Region Three Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) City: Leonora Address: West Central Mall - Office Floor Website: https://www.facebook.com/r3cci Phone: +592 618 0644 Email: r3cci.smpr@gmail.com