44 Shops In Border, St. Elizabeth Back In Business

The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, has rebuilt a cluster of 44 shops in Border, St. Elizabeth.

The move is part of the recovery of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in communities across parishes that were hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at Wednesday’s (Dec. 3) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, informed that over 600 MSMEs have been identified as requiring post-hurricane assistance.

These comprise 262 in Trelawny, 285 in Hanover, 80 in St. Elizabeth and approximately 30 in St. James.

Senator Hill noted that following an assessment of business restoration needs across the parishes, the Ministry received an initial allocation of $20 million to commence rebuilding works on 50 enterprises.

“So, we went down to Border… we found… a cluster [of shops]. There are 44 families, mainly women, but some men, who operate from there. There are 26 fishermen that supply them. There are a number of farmers that supply the food and the vegetables that go into the whole thing, and we took it on,” he pointed out.

He noted that the structures have been embedded in concrete to improve their stability and fitted with hurricane straps to ensure that in the event of heavy winds, the roofs will remain in place.

The Minister informed that further work is being carried out to protect the buildings against flooding.

“You need to have a revetment at the back. We’re going to put in some boulders, either stones or concrete to keep the water out. We’re [also] going to make sure that there’s some eating places; we’re putting some kitchens behind there that they can use,” he said, noting that a corporate company has indicated that it will paint the shops, including the designs and naming.

Meanwhile, the Minister announced that plans are in place to carry out restoration works at a grocery business in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, which operates the “biggest meat and grocery operation” in the area.

“We’re looking at putting on the roof… The cold storage went [and] they worked with Jamaica Broilers Group and us to get the cold storage back up. It’s a big place and it’s the main thing there,” he pointed out.

Other restoration works included distributing 11 generators to businesses in St. James, especially the community shops “where usually they sell meat, they sell flour, they sell bread, so that they become the centre of community development,” Senator Hill said.

The Ministry will be targeting a cluster of shops in Middle Quarters, St. Elizabeth for the next set of restoration works.

Additional support from the Ministry includes a voucher system that can be used by community members to get access to goods.