Guyanese businessman launches new transportation service app: 592 Rides

May 25, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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Kaieteur News- In a time when Guyana is experiencing rapid infrastructural and economic change, one entrepreneur is taking a grassroots approach to transform how people move across the country. Gilbert Carrington, founder of Guyana Social Enterprise (GSE), is spearheading an ambitious initiative in creating an app 592 Rides, a ride-share service designed to offer affordable, safe, and reliable transportation while generating employment.

Carrington explained that his journey began when he moved to the United States where he earned advanced degrees in International Relations and Communications Management from Howard University in Washington, D.C. His time at Howard was formative, particularly the influence of then-President Cheeks, who urged students to forge their own paths through entrepreneurship.

Taking that advice to heart, Carrington went on to establish several successful ventures in the U.S., including Braids Inc., a popular natural hair salon in Washington, D.C., which thrived for over 25 years, and Antilles Spa, a luxury wellness concept housed in custom-built commercial spaces.

While his businesses flourished, Carrington still wanted to serve and uplift his community in Guyana.  In 2015, Carrington became an Uber driver, initially a practical decision, one that allowed him to support his son through high school and college, but it soon evolved into a deeper realization. Driving through the city streets of D.C., interacting with passengers from all walks of life, Carrington saw firsthand how technology was revolutionizing transportation and creating economic opportunities. It was during these reflective drives that the idea for 592 Rides was born.

Launched under the umbrella of GSE, Carrington founded in 2020, 592 Rides. He explained, “It’s not just a ride-share app—it is a social enterprise with a mission. The platform is built specifically for the Guyanese context, taking into account the geographical, cultural, and economic realities of the nation.  By prioritizing local drivers and focusing on customer experience, 592 Rides aims to create a trusted, community-first alternative to foreign-owned transportation services.”

Yet, the journey to build 592 Rides has been anything but easy. Initial fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe campaign, failed to attract the level of support Carrington had hoped for. But salvation came from an unexpected source. While hosting a guest at Carri’s Bed & Breakfast, a property he owns in Guyana, Carrington shared his vision for 592 Rides.

That guest, Niranjan Prasad, a businessman from India exploring spice trading opportunities in Guyana, was immediately intrigued, he said. The two discussed the project in depth, and what began as a casual conversation turned into a partnership. “Prasad saw potential not only in the app’s commercial viability but also in its social impact, and agreed to provide the necessary funding to begin development,” Carrignton explained.

This partnership has done more than finance the app—it has expanded its horizons. Plans are already in motion to launch the service in India under the name 91 Rides, using the same technological foundation developed in Guyana.

592 Rides is also laying the groundwork for sustainable innovation. Carrington explained that his team is currently engaged in discussions with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to introduce an Electric Vehicle (EV) fleet in Guyana. “This initiative, if successful, would make 592 Rides the first app-based service in the country to manage a green fleet, reducing emissions and setting new standards for environmental responsibility in the transportation sector,” he said. Although the project has faced nearly two years of delays and what Carrington describes as “perceived political interference,” he remains undeterred. For him, the vision of a cleaner, smarter Guyana is worth every challenge.

Carrington explained what sets 592 Rides apart from other transportation services. “It not just its technology or international reach, but its commitment to people. The platform promises flexible employment for drivers, many of whom struggle with limited job opportunities, and safer, more efficient transportation options for commuters across the country,” he said.

His story is one of resilience and reinvention. From corporate boardrooms in Washington, D.C. to backseat conversations in Uber rides, and now to the bustling streets of Georgetown, Gilbert Carrington has committed in achieving his dreams in providing efficient transportation services.

As the app nears completion and expansion plans accelerate, 592 Rides is “more than a transportation solution, it is a movement,” he said. To add that The App can now be downloaded on The Play and App stores.

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