SOME small business operators across Jamaica are lamenting the time and income they lost on Saturday following an islandwide power outage said to be caused by a procedural error at the Jamaica Public Service.

Yesterday, when the Jamaica Observer spoke to small business owners, they said the power cut which took place at approximately 5:45 pm and lasted for approximately five hours, left them with no choice but to close their doors early.

Among those affected were hairdressers, barbers and dressmakers who were fully booked trying to meet the demands of back-to-school preparations, which are still under way.

Yesterday, Dionne Brown, a fashion designer who operates a shop in Stony Hill, St Andrew, said: “It really set me back, because now I have to be finishing clothes that I should have finished from Saturday.”

“I was working on 15 uniforms for some teachers, so now I have to be doubling up and I have to call in one of my friends to assist me, and on top of that I also I have several school uniforms to finish so you can understand the pressure that I am now under,” she said.

“While I didn’t really lose any money, I lost about four hours of work as I was planning to work up until about 9:00 pm,” she added.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Mary Clarke, who specialises in ladies’ clothing and complained that the blackout put her under immense pressure.

Clarke explained that when the power supply was cut she was in the process of finishing an $11,000 suit for a woman who was expected to leave the island the following day.

“I came in the next day and finished the suit. Right now it is still here, so I’m hoping that the lady will come back for it,” she lamented.

In addition to that customer’s clothes, Clarke said she had two alterations, valued at $800, that she never got to do because of the blackout.

Karlene Getten, a former dressmaker who is now raising chickens in Clarendon, said the blackout caused her to lose some of the birds that were only a week old.

“Rats eat off 25 a mi chicken and mi 100 per cent sure say a the blackout because the rat wouldn’t go in the coop if the light was there,” she said, adding that she will now have to find $2,500 to replace the chicks.

A barbering assistant from Barbers of Oaklands, who gave her name only as Lasean, said she lost about $7,500 as there were five men who were waiting to get their hair cut but had to leave because of the blackout.

“It was really miserable [as] some people had to leave with their hair half done,” she said.

Marlene Lindsay, a hairdresser who works at Nairobi Shop in Clock Tower Plaza in Kingston, said when calculated the cosmetologist in her shop would have lost a lot of money as the salon was packed when the power went.

“We were greatly affected as normally we would work up to 11:00 pm or even 12 (midnight), depending on the work,” she said. “There were several persons waiting and we had to use a flashlight to finish some of the hair. Some persons went home with their hair wet.”

She added that as a result, she had to take half of the full price from her clients.

Sandra Samuels, chief executive officer of Totally Male Limited — a club spa salon for men, said business was definitely lost as during the hours of the power cut the establishment was fully booked.

“The power went at about 5:45 pm and we close at 8:00 pm on a Saturday. We were fully booked. We didn’t get back power until after 11:00 pm. We were one of the last people in the New Kingston area to receive light. As a result, we had to close early and I had to send home staff. In total, I’d say we lost about $30,000,” Samuels told the

Observer.

Olivia Johns, sales manager at Nickosi Salon, shared similar sentiments as she noted that “when the light went all customers in the spa got up and left”.

She added: “I was even running a card for about $12,000 and while talking with the customer and ‘braps’ — the light just went. What am I suppose to do then and there? She promised to come back.”

President of the Small Business Association of Jamaica Hugh Johnson said the association has sent out circulars to its members to get their feedback on the extent of the losses incurred.

He added that as soon as he receives feedback he will be able to provide “informed information” on the matter.