Kerri Gravesande-Bart is not entering politics for optics. She is stepping in with purpose, policy depth, and a proven track record of empowering women and building sustainable institutions. Now a candidate on the Alliance For Change (AFC) slate for the September 1 General and Regional Elections, her move signals a bold expansion of a decades-long mission: to build a Guyana that works—for everyone.
An award-winning entrepreneur, governance advocate, and co-founder of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG), Gravesande-Bart represents the kind of transformative leadership Guyana’s political landscape rarely sees. She brings a combination of private-sector excellence, development insight, and civic courage.
A Champion for Women in Business
In 2019, Gravesande-Bart co-founded WCCIG with businesswoman Lyndell Danzie-Black. The organisation was born out of necessity—to give women-led enterprises in Guyana the visibility, voice, and resources they had long been denied.
WCCIG’s vision is to help women achieve economic independence through business ownership and self-employment. Under Gravesande-Bart’s leadership, the organisation has grown into one of the country’s most respected business support institutions, fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurship, training, and international certification.
Through global programmes such as the Cherie Blair Foundation mentorship initiative, WCCIG connects local entrepreneurs with international mentors. It serves a diverse cross-section of Guyanese women—from sole proprietors and professionals to women-led corporations—helping them meet both local compliance standards and international procurement benchmarks.
An Author with a Governance Mission
Gravesande-Bart has also published her first book, A Compilation of Corporate Governance Guidelines for New Entrepreneurs, available on Kindle. This guide provides a practical blueprint for emerging business leaders, offering tools for risk management, financial transparency, stakeholder engagement, and ethical leadership.
The book is more than a manual—it reflects Gravesande-Bart’s belief that strong governance is the foundation of credible institutions, whether in business or public service.
Topics such as:
- Risk management,
- Financial transparency,
- Stakeholder engagement, and
- Ethical leadership
form the foundation of a guide that is already empowering a new wave of ethical entrepreneurship in Guyana.
From Business Advocacy to the Ballot Box
Her entrance into electoral politics through the AFC is a natural extension of her values. For Gravesande-Bart, policy reform and institutional credibility are not abstract ideals—they are the building blocks of a country that must serve all its citizens.
She has dedicated her career to building systems that empower others and now aims to fix the ones that have failed so many—from small business owners to women struggling for opportunity. With over 15 years of experience in business development, human resources, and quality management—including ventures in Guyana’s oil and gas sector—Gravesande-Bart brings hard-earned credibility and a reformer’s clarity to the political space.
Her candidacy is also rare in Guyana’s political culture: a woman with proven leadership, entering not through family or party legacy, but through impact.
AFC’s Strategic Bet on Experience and Integrity
By adding Gravesande-Bart to its ticket, the AFC is reinforcing its message of competence, accountability, and inclusion. Her presence strengthens the party’s pledge to bring fresh, people-centered leadership to Guyana.
It also aligns with a growing national call for leaders who are serious about reform and who understand that building a nation requires discipline, innovation, and transparency—traits often honed outside of politics.
A New Kind of Leadership
Gravesande-Bart brings a clear vision and firm resolve. She believes Guyana has the talent, but what is missing is leadership that invests in systems which support people—not entrench power.
If elected, she is expected to advocate for women’s economic empowerment, procurement fairness, entrepreneurial development, and broader reforms in governance and education.
In a country where politics can feel like a recycling of the old guard, Gravesande-Bart’s candidacy offers a refreshing vision—one built on merit, momentum, and modern governance.
Her leap from the boardroom to the ballot is more than symbolic. It is a declaration that Guyana’s future will not be built by gatekeepers—but by builders. Gravesande-Bart is ready to build.
Sources: Village Voice News, Stabroek News, Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG)
