Small business vital to economy, says Kellman

Minister of Industry Denis Kellman at the launch of Party Xpress. (Sharon Harding)

Wed, January 04, 2012 - 12:00 AM

THE ECONOMY WILL NOT IMPROVE unless more small businesses were created and those already operating were valued, Minister of Industry Denis Kellman has told Barbadians.

He said Government would ensure that small businesses were respected and that large corporations appreciate and treat small businesses “the same way they treat foreign investors and larger businesses”.

His comments came last Wednesday during the opening of a new shop – Party Xpress Inc. – at The Orange Mall, Warrens, St Michael.

“In order for us to create work in Barbados, we have to learn to support the businesses so they can keep people employed. This economy will not improve until we expand the amount of work and increase business activities in this country. We cannot expand the economy by cutting back,” he pointed out.

The minister, who is also a businessman, told the small gathering that roadside vendors also contributed significantly to the development of the island and therefore should be allowed to ply their trade without fear.

“That guy that you see cutting hair along the roadside, he too is a businessman,” Kellman said.

“If we do not have small businesspeople, we will not have a country. All you have to do is look around Barbados and you will see who [is] contributing to the development of Barbados. That guy at the roundabout selling coconuts [and/or] ackees, what is he doing for Barbados? He is saving the country foreign exchange and creating work for himself so that the welfare department will not be bombarded.”

Kellman’s comments came just one month after the Ministry of Transport and Works warned that vending on the highway was unsafe and advised vendors and their customers to “desist from this dangerous practice”. (MM)