Help small businesses, says Walters

A heavy-handed approach is not the way!

This is the view of advocate for small businesses in Barbados, Ryan Walters, as he called on Government to ease the pressure from this sector as they seek to survive as a result of the novel coronavirus.

In a statement on Thursday, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) spokesman for small business opined that recent headlines suggest that the Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland, is launching an attack on some small business owners.

“Over the last couple weeks, media houses headlined ‘Zero Tolerance’, ‘Warning for rogue businesses’, ‘Crackdown on shops’, all related to comments the minister has reportedly made in relation to dealing with small enterprises who seem to be struggling to adhere to varying policies.”

According to Walters, “The DLP is no way condoning or encouraging any business to operate contrary to law, rather we are asking the Minister to take another approach in dealing with small businesses who may find it difficult to immediately rectify some of the challenges they face with compliance. Six weeks is a long time for any businessperson to survive without an income.”

Walters added that with the continued increase in unemployment, it is a reasonable expectation that even more persons will seek to make a living for themselves by entering into entrepreneurship.

“The DLP is therefore recommending to the Ministry to put a system in place that fosters positive communication, guidance and mentorship to help existing and new entrepreneurs during the economic rebuilding process.

“Let us grasp the opportunities that lie before us. If we can lend a helping hand and empower entrepreneurial-minded persons, this will assist tremendously with the rebuilding of our economy over the next 12 months. Let’s help, not demotivate those that seek to help themselves. After all, we are in this together,” Walters said.