Culinary arts centre opened at Cove and John

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Friday commissioned the Roots and Flavours Culinary Arts Centre at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI), Cove and John, East Coast Demerara.

According to a ministry release, the centre will provide training in culinary skills while promoting entrepreneurship, employment and financial independence, particularly among women.

Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, speaking at the commissioning ceremony, said the facility was intended to preserve Guyana’s culinary heritage while helping participants to convert their skills into sustainable livelihoods.

“The Roots and Flavours Culinary Arts Centre is not just another centre. We have excellent centres across Guyana; it’s the newest kid on the block, but it’s the newest kid on the block with a purpose,” she said.

The facility was constructed by the ministry with support from the Chinese Embassy, the United Nations and World University Service of Canada Caribbean.

Persaud said the centre’s name reflects Guyana’s cultural diversity and the culinary traditions brought by the country’s various ethnic groups.

“Roots speak to the rich heritage of Guyana, bringing together cultures that span continents, and with those cultures, we would have become the melting pot for some of the best food in this part of the world,” she said.

The minister argued that local cuisine could play a larger role in Guyana’s tourism product as the tourism and hospitality sectors expand.

“Guyanese food is known everywhere. Once people have a taste of our food, they come back for it, and they take it with them overseas,” she said.

Persaud added that the centre would seek to take Guyanese cuisine beyond the country’s borders while supporting the development of a street-food industry.

The centre is expected to work with local chefs and cooks, with an emphasis on retaining flavours traditionally found in Guyanese homes. Its programmes will also cover beverage preparation, while partnerships are being considered to expose participants to international cuisine.

The facility forms part of the ministry’s skills-development initiatives under the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network programme.