Gov’t to help small community shops to reopen, including loaning them generators

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says the Government is working on a plan to get the local economy in hurricane-affected areas back up and running, arguing that having community shops operational is critical to the recovery.

Holness says the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce has been tasked with the project.

He says while large businesses are back up, small operators in local communities are still closed due to issues such as electricity and access to supplies to furnish their shops.

To get local shops operational, the Prime Minister says he’s looking at providing generators — 50 of them in the first instance — to shops in areas most impacted and isolated by the hurricane.

Holness says requirements will be established and a verification exercise will be undertaken.

He says a part of the plan is to have a partnership with shop operators to help store government relief supplies.

He adds that this will help with getting more aid to communities.

Holness was speaking at a press conference at Jamaica House today.

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