WHAT makes businesses successful in Jamaica, especially Jamaican-owned businesses? Most businesses started in Jamaica are not done through multimillion-dollar loans, investment corporations, foreign investments, or through government-assisted schemes.

Most businesses started by the common man are started by the bag juice and cheese trix vendors, those who sell bananas, oranges, porridge and soup along the roadside and at school gates. These micro-commerce operators also sell things like sweets, ice-cream, cakes and patties, as well as biscuits and fried dumplings. In fact, most businesses spiral from the revenue attained from selling to primary and high school students who support local businesses in the communities.

The Government has recently slated the banning of vendors at school premises, locking students in from supporting the vendors as well as the outside business community, but it should think twice about doing so. It should, instead, work with such vendors as well as the business community to ensure the safe, secure delivery of food and other items.

I remember being at primary school and coming out to support the local shops in the Anchovy community. We, the students, would come out to support two local fledgling businesses. One operated by selling fry dumpling and bag juice and the other a wholesale operated through selling us box juice and cheese trix. Today, they are among the top business owners in the Anchovy area. One has even graduated from a wholesale to supermarket. Now the family owns hardware stores, complexes, and other businesses. Little Anchovy has now materialised into a local prosperous town community.

Recently, however, business owners have complained that business is slow, in particular the food shops, restaurants and pastry shops, and most are looking forward to the reopening of school for business to pick up. Some of these businesses may not fare well, however, as the schools in the area are planning to lock their students in from supporting the local businesses and vending community. For local business to strive however, they need or will depend on the spending cash of the students to make or build better businesses. If such economy, as the schools ,were not operated, or if the students were not allowed to spend with these businesses many would not prosper. These businesses need the spending capital of such students from the school community in order for business to prosper.

Yes, security is necessary, but there must be a joint programme of understanding that the economy is cyclical and revolving, each economy depending on the other for both to prosper. Anchovy and its environs are living testimony to this system, a microcosm of businesses working together to oil the tracks of each other to work together and prosper. Let’s protect the economy of the local area businesses through allowing students to spend with the vendors. The success of the local businesses and the region depend on it. Keep our community working.

ibriony@yahoo.com