Ministry of Commerce and Cayman Islands Development Bank (CIDB) staff meet with small business owners on Cayman Brac L-R: Oneisha Richards, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Ralph Lewis, CIDB General Manager, small business owners Dole Dixon and Danny Dixon, Andrew Thomas, CIDB Accountant, Vanessa Godfrey-Banks, CIDB Board Chairperson and Hon Charles Clifford, Minister of Commerce.

Small business owners on Cayman Brac will receive assistance from the Cayman Islands Development Bank (CIDB) following a visit by Minister of Commerce Hon Charles Clifford and CIDB officials.

Mr Clifford was recently in the Brac with CIDB General Manager Ralph Lewis and CIDB Board Chairperson Vanessa Godfrey-Banks to assess the kind of assistance Brac businesses required post-Paloma to continue their operations.

“In this time of dire need it was important for the CIDB to reach out to its affected customers and potential customers in the Sister Islands. It is also important for us to understand first hand the challenges those businesses face as they rebuild,” Mr Clifford said.

Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell said, “We are very grateful for the assistance from the CIDB. As in all economies, the vast majority of businesses on the Sister Islands are small businesses. While small businesses are the ones most vulnerable to catastrophic events, such as we experienced here on the Brac, they can more dramatically benefit from loans and financial programmes such as those offered by CIDB.”

The first CIDB loan granted under the agency’s previously announced post-Paloma relief plan was to a car rental agency. The company’s vehicles required replacement due to extensive damage from flying debris.

“Our relief plan announced last week is in place and financial assistance has already been provided for some of our clients on the Sister Islands. We are happy that we could address our customer’s request for assistance within three business days in order to allow him to be fully operational in the near future,” Mr Lewis said.

CIDB officials also met with the owners of a bakery located in Spot Bay who requested assistance to expand their facility to meet increased demands as the only operational bakery on the Sister Islands. To assist this customer, an order was placed with an overseas vendor for delivery of additional bakery equipment.

“We understand that small businesses are the lifeblood of an economy, and the Sister Islands are no exception. Where those businesses need help the CIDB will be there to provide financial assistance and to help them get back on their feet,” Mr Clifford said.

A press release from the Ministry of Commerce encouraged existing CIDB business customers and potential customers to contact the CIDB for an appointment to discuss their financial needs.

CIDB personnel will be visiting the Brac weekly.

To make an appointment or get more information on the CIDB hurricane relief programme, contact the CIDB’s Disaster Coordinator, Rhonda Conolly at 814-6262 or Mr Lewis at 814-6269.