PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (CMC) — Forty business operators have received hurricane recovery grants as part of a wider effort to help rebuild and sustain the economy of this British Overseas territory through support to businesses most impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Under a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported project led by the country office in Kingston, Jamaica, the 40 grants valued at a total of US$40,000 were disbursed over the period May 4-8 .

UNDP has partnered with the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) in TCI to facilitate the administration of the grants specifically to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Recognising the role played by small businesses in the TCI economy and the many small families dependent on the quick recovery of these businesses, the UNDP said it found it prudent to put its support behind recovery assistance to MSMEs, said UNDP Resident Representative Bruno Pouezat .

The 40 micro grants will support structural repairs and replacement of inventory for MSMEs, 22 of which are owned by women.

Grantees include pest control companies, farmers, fishermen, taxis, schools, restaurants, manufacturers, vacation rentals and retail establishments in TCI.

The 40 grantees are also a part of a group of 60 MSMEs who will participate in all-island Disaster Risk Reduction and Contingency Planning workshops which are also funded by UNDP and coordinated by the CED in partnership with the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies.

The workshops will be delivered by mid-May and are designed to strengthen the resilience of MSMEs in responding to natural disasters.

CED Director Sophia Thomas remarked that “the training was certainly timely, relevant and empowered participants with the tools to assist MSMEs. CED is certainly grateful to UNDP and the other partnerships on this initiative that would eventually make our clients more resilient to natural disasters”.

Support for the training will be provided by 15 representatives of the Turks and Caicos Island Government who participated in a three-day Training of Trainers Workshop held here last week .

The UNDP country office’s support to TCI’s post hurricane recovery effort also includes the creation of a Debris and Waste Management Plan comprising medium to long-term management and recycling strategies and support to Government’s disaster recovery and resilience plans.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria passed over the territory in September 2017, severely damaging the islands of South Caicos, Grand Turk and Salt Cay.

The UNDP country office in Kingston serves Jamaica, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands.