Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerrie Symmonds.
Parliament has approved $6.5 million for FundAccess, as financial assistance for micro and small businesses in this country which were affected by the period of National Pause, was put in place last month to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the island.
Leading off the debate on a supplementary in the Lower House on Tuesday evening for the Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Minister Kerrie Symmonds said that this is the second such money they have required, as they had previously requested and got approval for $3.5 million.
His comments came as he said that his Ministry has received thousands of applications for assistance, and he took the opportunity to thank the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology for its help in establishing a “seamless way” of making sure that they were able to facilitate and process the numerous applications received and verify them, in order to facilitate disbursements of the funds. He explained that Government had formulated a programme that would allow vendors including fish vendors, fishermen, small businesses and shops to receive weekly grants during the lockdown period.
“For the period beginning 3rd of February and continuing to the 17th of February, which is the first two weeks of the period of National Pause, we would have received 6,122 applications. As of the 8th of March... 3,407 persons were paid and as of yesterday [Monday] 86 persons were awaiting disbursement, pending the completion of the verification process. So that would give you, assuming that all went well with those 86, 3,493 people who would have benefited from this financial assistance programme of the Government,” he said.
Symmonds revealed that to date, the total amount disbursed for the first two weeks of the National Pause was $2,080,000. Leaving $1,420,000 available for disbursement at this time.
“But you would recognise that in the context of 6,122 applicants that is insufficient, and that is the reason why I am here today to seek a supplementary,” he stated.
Breaking down the numbers in terms of the categories of beneficiaries, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Minister revealed that in respect of beauty services, inclusive of hair stylists, nail technicians and barbers, 832 verified applications and the funds disbursed totalled $416,000. He added that persons involved in the food services sector, such as operators of canteens and delis, 462 applications were made for the first two-week period and $231,000 was paid.
He went on to say that 280 applications were made by taxi operators and $140,000 was paid to them; 289 appli-cations were made by shops and $433,500 was paid out; and $482,500 was disbursed to the 964 verified vendors who applied.
Meanwhile, he said that the other aspect of the supplementary is for the Division of Energy and Natural Resources in the amount of $375,756. He explained that the sum is to assist that Division in being able to make disbursements to property owners on the island, regarding payments for the petroleum quota.
“As you know, there are some properties where Government is doing the necessary drilling, etc. and people are entitled to be compensated for the use of their land and resources taken thereof, and that is part of what this sum of money is about,” he added. (JRT)
