Twenty-five with disabilities get start-up loans

More than two dozen people with disabilities have benefitted from over $100,000 in Trust Loans, Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce Dwight Sutherland has disclosed.

The first recipient of the start-up loan was a person with a disability, Sutherland told the House of Assembly during its sitting on the Appropriation Bill on Tuesday.

The Minister said: “On November 5 when we launched the Trust Loan fund when we opened the  unit the first person that received a Trust Loan was a person with disability.

“I can report that as of February the 26th we have thus far disbursed 25 loans valued at over $100,000 to persons with disabilities.”

Sutherland explained that the ministry’s actions were in keeping with the Government’s policy as it relates to the persons with disabilities.

He said: “It speaks to our mandate as a Government. We will not leave anyone behind.

“During the Disability Week, I journeyed to Norman Centre and I visited that area that was allocated for persons with disabilities to ply their trade and if you want to see good art and craft you visit those persons disabilities who are very good with their hands. I say to you, the doors are open at the Trust Loan.

“The doors are open at Fund Access and I know the doors are open at the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited that we will provide not only funding but the training opportunities for those persons with disabilities.”

The St George South MP then promised that his ministry also intends to provide training in terms of managing a small business to the disabled.

Sutherland explained: “We have a cadre of business persons who train in dealing with people with disabilities and we have already contacted persons as we seek to build out the Financial Literacy Bureau within this financial year coming 2020-2021.

“We have already identified persons who can provide the necessary training and the coaching for those businesses of persons who have disabilities so this Government is focusing on not leaving anyone behind at all.

“Our primary focus is that persons with disabilities whether young, old are a part of the ecosystem that we seek build out within the micro, small and medium enterprise sector.”