‘Curfew ease good for small businesses’

Ryan Walters, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) spokesman on small business and entrepreneurship, has welcomed the easing of the curfew, saying this would provide some breathing room for micro and small businesses to start to dig themselves from the brink of collapse.

However, Walters is calling for “sustained” and “steady” easing of the remaining measures to provide the business community with the best chance to earn.

Effective Monday, November 15, 2021, the nightly curfew was extended to between midnight and 5 a.m., from the months-long 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

Walters said in a statement: “The Democratic Labour Party is extremely happy that many small businesses, whether directly or indirectly, will finally get some much-needed breathing space with the relaxation of the curfew.

“We sincerely hope that this will provide them with the boost that they need to start to dig themselves out of their dire financial situations,” said Walters.

“Small operators have experienced low levels of income or none at all and they have been struggling and left out in the wilderness. Being able to open longer and for some to open for the first time in months will definitely drive the recovery process,” he said.

However, pointing out that many micro and small businesses have been “surviving on their own might” and managing few resources and significantly reduced sales, Walters said he hoped the easing of remaining COVID-19 measures would continue apace.

“We hope that further action will continue at a steady rate as it has been a rocky road for micro and small enterprises that have been crippled by restrictions and sidelined by the government for 18 months,” he said.

The DLP has consistently lobbied for support to the sector, most of which has fallen on deaf ears. We have continually highlighted to the government the contribution that micro and small businesses make to our economy. Once this relaxation is sustained we can expect that more job opportunities will be created,” said Walters.

“The party also anticipates that with the night economy opening up, spending power is going to increase as more persons not only find jobs, but current employees will earn more money by virtue of an increase in working hours,” he added.

He further argued that with the longer opening hours, larger firms will also increase their earning ability as they benefit from the ripple effects of increased purchasing by entrepreneurs and small businesses.

“The Government will increase its tax revenue, National Insurance claims and the reliance on welfare programs will gradually drop over time. The positive spin-off effect is guaranteed,” he added.

Walters, who has been pushing for more attention to be paid to the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) sector over the past several months, said the DLP would continue to highlight the importance of the sector to the economy and livelihoods, and will “bravely lobby” for support financially and otherwise.

“More importantly we will continue to call on government to clearly outline a path for its sustained development – something that they are yet to do,” he said.

Yesterday, business and union leaders welcomed the relaxed curfew hours, suggesting it would bring about opportunities for profit and job creation as the Christmas period draws closer. (MM)