The Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) is calling for swift action to unlock government contracts for recovery after Hurricane Melissa.

SBAJ President Garnet Reid says time is of the essence, as he calls for the 20% government contract set aside for small businesses to be unlocked immediately.

The association says small business owners are reeling in the aftermath of the hurricane.

According to Reid, for many Jamaicans, access to the contracts is a lifeline to rebuild livelihoods, restore dignity, and re-invigorate the economy.

The SBAJ President said Jamaica’s small business community is bleeding and that if action is not taken now many will never recover.

The SBAJ argues that the 20% procurement set-aside is meant for moments like this: to help local businesses, especially small ones, to rebuild.

However, the association says the present procurement procedures remain too sluggish, too complex and too opaque for many to navigate – especially in a post-disaster context.

The SBAJ is calling for a streamlined procurement, simplified bidding process and the waiving of excessive red tape in the short term, so that prequalified small businesses can access contracts quickly.

It’s also seeking technical and capacity support, the provision of rapid training and guidance on how to draft proposals, meet compliance criteria and deliver on contract terms – especially for newly reactivated or newly formed businesses, financial and operational backing, including leveraging funding from international development partners and creating fast-track grant or low-interest loan mechanisms to support the working capital needs of small businesses rebuilding after damage.

The association also lists monitoring, transparency, and accountability, establishing clear, public reporting on how the 20% allocation is being used and ensuring that contracts go to bona fide small businesses – not just large firms subcontracting in the name of small enterprises.

The SBAJ wants to see international development partners who operate in Jamaica work in close partnership with the government, National Contracts Commission and the small business sector.

These include: the World Bank, United Nations agencies, United States Agency for International Development, European Union, Caribbean Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The group says action is needed for Jamaica’s immediate recovery and long-term growth, pointing out among other things that small businesses employ a significant portion of Jamaicans.

This will enable more of them to secure government contracts and immediately reemploy workers and prevent mass layoffs.