The government on Wednesday morning launched an emergency grant for micro and small emergency businesses in Dominica that were affected by Hurricane Maria.
The program is being funded by the World Bank at a cost of US$3-million and a total of 1,500 small businesses are being targeted, with each receiving $5,376.
“The reality is that small businesses in Dominica have been greatly affected and every day we get the requests, the inquiries as to what kind of support, when are small businesses going to get the needed support so that so that they can recover from the losses, loss of livelihood, even the loss of jobs,” Roselyn Paul, Minister for Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business Development, said at the launch.
She said the resources for the program will be provided by the World Bank.
Paul stated that from today until January 24, small business owners will be asked to apply for assistance under the program.
“You must have suffered loss from Maria for you to apply,” she explained. “We will be reaching out to all communities via the Village Councils so that people can have access to the application forms.”
She added that a public awareness program will be launched so that businesses owners who were affected by the storm can have access to the application forms and the grant.
“So it is not only going to be in Roseau but we are going to make sure that we reach out to all the communities around Dominica…” Paul noted.
She explained that the targeted subsectors will be within retail trade and services, food and beverages, manufacturing and agro-processing and construction.
“And the target is 1,500 small and micro-businesses around Dominica,” Paul said.
Esther Thomas, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business, gave a breakdown of the small businesses that will be involved.
She said that 700 people will be targeted in the retail trade and services subsector.
“For retail trade and services, we are looking at art and craft producers, landscapers, retail shops, barbers, hairdressers, manicure and pedicure practitioners, vendors involved in retail trade,” she explained.
Thomas stated that for the food and beverages subsector, 350 small businesses will be targeted.
“And we are looking at persons with restaurants and bakers,” she said.
In the manufacturing and agro-processing subsector, 300 will be targeted.
“We are looking at chainsaw and producers of lumber, charcoal producers, honey producers, furniture makers and other light manufacturing and agro-processing,” Thomas remarked.
In construction, she said people who are involved in bricks and mortar, mechanics, electricians, and plumbers will be targeted.
Thomas said that every single person will get the same amount of $5,376.
She explained that one of the requirements to be eligible for the grant is that the business must have suffered loss or was affected due to the passage of Hurricane Maria.
She also said that it is important that the business is registered with the Company and Intellectual Property Office.
Additionally, Thomas pointed out the small business must employ between one to 20 people with owners recognizing themselves as an employee.
“So if it is only you in the business, you are one employee,” Thomas said. “While you are the owner, you are an employee.”
Thomas explained that the business must have been operational before and at the time of Hurricane Maria and evidence has to be provided to ensure this is true.
She remarked that special attention will be given to gender, disability, and regional representation and it will be required that recipients sign a letter that the money was received and a contract must be signed saying that all commitments will be met.
“The required documentation … you will come in, you will be able to fill an application form, you must submit a copy of an identification, you must submit your certificate of business registration or submission of proof of business banking account and of course a copy of your Dominica Social Security,” Thomas stated.
The program is being funded by the World Bank at a cost of US$3-million and a total of 1,500 small businesses are being targeted, with each receiving $5,376…?
I mean we want to do mass production for mass export on the international stage and this thing I am reading makes no business sense to me. Will each person export their own product, or it will be collective. I mean small farmers having this government fooled them that they bring their hard earned produce only to see it rotten at some storage place until everyone producers? Is this how its gonna work. In absence of clear information, I am duty bound to see it as it is presented. Will be transported by LIAT, is there a contract, or will it be transported by the Venezuelan Ship docked outside Woodbridge Bay. Skerrit and his corrupt inept government are a real bunch of jokes. The blind leading the Blind.
This Skerrit lead corrupt government are a real bunch of jokers.
Zoe got assistant to build a bar 4 ft x 4ft to sell alcohol , the bar never open. Maria took the bar , she wants to apply for more money , so you mean a bar 4 ft x 4 ft would get $5,370.00 ?. Now she want to apply for money and say she have business before Maria .
Eyes will be watching .
that math is wrong. Equally each business would get 2000. Not 5,376
Haven’t you figured that the money from the World Bank is in U.S.$. the local payment will be in E.C.$. Simple really.
true true. currency conversion.
3 mill divided by 1,500 = 2000
I am not sure the distribution strategy for the funds was well thought out. All businesses are not the same. A barber may only need $1000 to get back on his feet, whereas a farmer who lost his crop might need $20,000.
I am not sure if they thought they were being fair, or simply did not want to do the work that was necessary to properly assess how best to distribute the funds.
My guess is that will be a waste of very precious funds.
To me it isclear that this is a way to use World Bank money for electioneering. Let’s face it, EC 5,400 is less than most sr. government officials make in a month and hardly enough a seed corn or assistance for an existing business. It is iadministerd through village councils for a limited number of applicants. Guess whom they ar going to nominate? Secondly, I see no requirement for thercipients to pay that money back at any time. It simply is a kado for those who support the present regime and once again will cause division between those who get and those who don’t, making it clear that if you do not support Skerrit you will not share in the goodies, which are at his discretion to hand out. This is his modus operandi and anyone who thinks they can change him and mend his ways is on a hiding to nothing. You can paint a dog or a horse to hide its spots but they will always be there regardless.
Where is the farmers money soooooo long bon dieuuu!!!!!!!
I wonder from these comments did anybody understand what it is they read here? These are grants being made available to business owners to go towards the recovery of there business it may be enough it may not be enough for the full recovery , thats how these things work. You can think of it as a student scholarship,
there are full scholarships that pay for everything, and scholarships that do not. This wasn’t intended to help all business owners with full recovery. If the business owner need more money, its up to them to look into other available programs and products to help themselves. Bear in mind these grants are for small business owners like maybe these vendors with small booths or tables setup some where or maybe a shop owner with just the business owner and maybe one other person employed in the business.
Funded by the World Bank. That says it all. The bankers visit frequently unbeknownst to many Dominicans. They own the place. Skerritt will never be able to pay the debt.
A program like this should be crafted by professional s and should not have the interference from a Minister of Government. The professional Permanent Secretary, should be allowed to do her work.
The question is from the comments above and what we need to ask? Do you want REAL development on island, or as we economist have researched,do you want “good” or”bad” development ? It’s not “Funny” anymore what’s going under. I hope to pursue the matter with The World Bank. Someone there, should explain! I am hoping that this situation be more Transparent, in every way. Me Paul please, let’s have a professional and transparent distribution of the Cash or else Papa Bon-dier! They Really have ‘A PLAN’ for us. Pray seriously : Lord Jesus Christ, deliver us from ALL Evil.
Another way for this government to give hand outs to KNOWN DLP supporters.
Again! You guys gave out millions for small business development before Maria and what pray tell what was the outcome. Now you guys gonna use World Bank funds to start your election campaign. DNO tell us if these funds from the World Bank was a grant or a loan? I assume your repoeyes were at the press conference.
I must say that Ms Paul and Ms. Thomas have me lost and confused. First of all a total of 1,500 small businesses are being targeted, with each receiving $5,376. Am I to conclude that we only have 1,500 businesses that got affected? Have they come to that conclusion? Each small business owner getting $5,376.00? So let’s say I have a small business that is worth $200K and everything got destroyed, I only getting $5,376.00 no matter my loss? What if another person with a small business, say a shop or bakery that’s worth $2,500 they getting $5,376.00? So what if more than 1500 persons applied? Sounds like they have made their list already. Notice: “Additionally, Thomas pointed out the small business must employ between one to 20 people with owners recognizing themselves as an employee.” So if I have a business that only employs me and you have one that employs 20 persons, we getting same amount. Clearly the objective is not to build back or create employment. Looks more like a payback
Ms. Paul I am a plumber that didn’t have a van, truck or tools; however, I have an account that I established the last time I got money for small business and I can get somebody to write a bill and post date it to show I bought tools. Am I qualified to get $5,376.00?
Ms Paul, I am a charcoal producer from your constituency and I know you know I never owned a chainsaw; can you tell me who from the team to go to so they could write me a bogus bill that says I owned 2 chainsaws and back date it so I could get $5376.00?
Ms. Thomas I didn’t have a lawnmower but can I get someone to write me a bill and backdate it so I could get $5,376.?
But ladies what about people that owned passengers buses, employed drivers and next thing Maria destroyed? Am I qualified?
All you already know who all you targeting, how many people in each category and how much each person getting no matter their loss so why waste peoples time? Seems like the same unproductive small business all you registered in…
Well if you have a business that worth 200k Nagico and new India and Caribbean alliance were available.
no you are only assuming that that is what they mean. OBVIOUSLY!!!! there are more than 1500 small businesses here in Dominica. Apart from the banks and Astaphans and Clear Harbor, ALL businesses here are considered small based on their employment size. Now, whether you employ one or 20, in my opinion, EC$5,376 is nothing. Especially if your business already has a loan and hasnt been operating since the storm.
U lost me there. Cus u thinking it’s your money u work hard for u have in the bank? U need to read and understand wat u read. If u need help I will get blessings and coipel to help u.
On one hand u all saying let people work hard no hand out and on the other hand, making noise for hand out?
God works in misterious ways.
A lesson for all u.
Honestly brother, perhaps it is me but I haven’t got a clue what you are talking about.
The World meant well to make funds available but it’s a big mistake for them to allow a corrupt regime like the one we have to distribute it. I mean to hear Roselyn Paul say only businesses damaged by Maria qualifies and that they will work it through the village councils, is enough cause for concern. First of all, what is their definition of small businesses that were affected by Maria? Ms. Paul, would weed farmers be qualified as small business? I ask because just before Maria the same government and same Ms. Paul gave large sums of money, in the name of small business, to persons who are known to weed farmers . Maria must have destroyed their cultivation which would qualify them to receive more funds. I would expect government to know by now all the registered and legitimate small businesses that were impacted by Maria and for them to reach out to them, with the view of assisting them and with a plan of them creating employment. I believe that’s what the world bank wants
Papa Bodier look Skerrit them finding another legal way to spread love for the boys and them. Small businesses need a financial injection for sure; but the question is and has always been about honesty and transparency . Before Skerrit goes around giving post Christmas gifts to the boys and them they should put a legal document out stating clearly that if anyone uses such funds for anything other than the agreed and declared business, they will face the law. That document should be signed by each recipient and government should put a follow-up team in place to visit each small business every sis months to ensure commitment. But I don’t believe Skerrit them will do that because rats don’t set traps to catch themselves
Unfortunately we do not have a responsible and honest government at the moment and like everything else that’s been going on, it’s more of the same old corrupt thing that puts politics before country. How can we expect a very corrupt tree to bring forth good fruits? During the months of February up to the month Maria hit us, we saw that same dirty game where many persons, who had no small, medium, or big business, get thousands of dollars from Skerrit government in the name of small business. We know for a fact that many never had intention of starting business and the government knew that as well. Yet, some were given monies to dry manicou, to build apartments, to start yard cleaning business while those who had small businesses and needed help got nothing! Not only was it given to supporters but even those who voted labor but didn’t like how things were going were victimized. I am sorry, this Skerrit government is to damn corrupt and not even their Kaka can be trusted
I support you on this one. That’s what made me sick about this. The plp i saw that needed the money didn’t get nothing. Other plp got large sum of money went on shopping spree , travelled and did nothing concerning business. Smh