Dominica PM Skerrit praised over small business development help

Dominica’s prime minister has been praised in parliament over his financial support of small businesses on the island.

As supplementary estimates of over $150 million were presented to the house, Minister for Enterprise and Small Business Development expressed full support to Roosevelt Skerrit, who is also finance minister.

Small business development received funding of $5.1 million, and Paul lauded efforts to decentralise funding – which she says is an important approach to spread the culture of entrepreneurship and strengthen the private sector.

“It speaks to more equitable distribution of resources and inclusion of all. This strategy encourages entrepreneurial activity in rural communities as increasingly we the Government of Dominica strive to develop strategies to sustain local economies,” she said.

Training and jobs

The minister revealed that from July 2016 to April 2017, 479 small businesses in eight communities have benefitted from $2.8 million.

“This is in addition to other applicants who benefitted from the ministry’s overall programme,” she added.

"When I speak of this, I speak here of the several small agro-processors who are benefitting; the virgin oil producers; the cocoa producers; the herbal tea producers; those involved in the production of sweets and confectionary; those making cassava bread; breadfruit and potato flour; the bee-keepers engaged in production for the local and export market.”

Small business owners are also receiving training, and Paul is confident that that the funding is translating into additional employment.

“Funds are not just disbursed and people and remain on their own but they are supported by technical advice, training and monitoring.

“In fact, in the last two months we have trained 369 small entrepreneurs in six villages in various districts; and even as we speak today, there is ongoing training this week, for example, in two additional communities.”