The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net MANY businesses adversely impacted by the New Providence Infrastructure Improvement Project (NPIIP) yesterday said the Government's pledge to provide them with tax incentives to aid their recovery was "too little, too late", although it was nevertheless welcomed. During his statement in the House of Assembly on the Project, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said: "Since society as a whole will reap the significant positive benefits of the NPIIP, the Government believes that it is only equitable for it to provide assistance to those businesses most adversely affected by the project. " I have therefore instructed officials to undertake, on a priority basis, a door-to-door survey along the project corridors where work has been completed, with the aim of identifying those enterprises whose business has been meaningfully and negatively impacted by the infrastructural works." The Prime Minister added: "Once we have the full results of the survey, we will be in a position to determine the major parameters of a financial assistance programme." Mr Ingraham said the options being eyed include Business License and real property tax rebates. "We will also explore the appropriateness of a grant programme similar to the Jump Start Programme that was announced in the last Budget," he added. "As with the Jump Start Programme, such an initiative could provide invaluable assistance to affected businesses, and allow them to maintain operations and employment levels without incurring additional debt." Brenda Moore, proprietor of Diehard Games on Robinson Road, who had put together a petition last year appealing for financial relief, told Tribune Business: "At least that's some good news. It's not too late for me because my business is still drowning. "My business has dropped off drastically. A lot of businesses are still suffering. I'm only surviving on God's grace. I have learned how to adjust. I am hurt, I'm hurt bad. My light bill is extremely high, I can't eat like I used to eat, I can't pay my light bill as I used to. I am sick and tired of the talk. If they do something that's fine. If not, so be it." Rupert Roberts, head of the Super Value food store chain, told Tribune Business: "That will only be helpful if it repays the damage that's been done, and continues to happen to these businesses because of the road turnaround. The works haven't been completed so that should be questioned." Barry A Kemp, proprietor of A1 Lock & Key on Market Street, told Tribune Business that while some assistance would be helpful to impacted businesses, it need to be substantial. Mr Kemp said: "To me, for most people it is pretty late. By now a lot of persons have bills backed up. If people could still get it, it would be good. The question is why now? Why not when we were really being impacted? If it is a genuine thing you won't mind. We can use it; still, why now?" Mr Kemp added: "With all the roadworks ruining businesses, some have had to close down, let go workers and are not operating at the level that they should. If it is really a genuine thing it should be something substantial so that we don't fall back in the hole again. If we are only going to get out of the hole so far, it doesn't make any sense." Ethric Bowe, spokesman for the Coconut Grove Business League (CGBL), said the move was simply a public relations stunt. "This is just a piece of public relations. You can't damage people and not fix them. How are they going to fix Jiffy Cleaner's? They're closed. This should have been considered before they did this," he said.