As recovery spending accelerates following Hurricane Melissa, the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica (YEA) is calling for the Government to anchor relief efforts in economic regeneration.

The group is pushing for a national framework that channels recovery contracts, tax incentives, and financing support toward micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), arguing that long-term resilience depends on keeping Jamaica’s small business sector alive and active in the rebuilding process. The call comes as the YEA continues to engage in relief activities and consult with member-led initiatives and MSMEs across the island. Many of these businesses have been supporting communities through food distribution, logistics, and clean-up drives. However, several parishes remain cut off, disrupting supply chains, cutting off customer access, and placing severe strain on cash flow.

“At this time, there is an urgent need to balance compassion with continuity, because the reality is that many MSMEs are showing leadership despite facing serious operational setbacks themselves,” said Cordell Williams, president of the YEA. “We are putting out a firm call for inclusive economic recovery to be a supporting focus of the Government at this time. We are imploring the Government to consider broader policy interventions that can bolster recovery momentum while fostering resilience in the small business sector.”

Drawing on its engagement with stakeholders and feedback from constituents in affected communities, the association is proposing several measures to support business recovery. Chief among them is the creation of an Emergency MSME Stabilisation Fund, which Williams suggests could be administered through the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) or the EXIM Bank to provide low-interest financing or grant-loan hybrids for enterprises directly impacted by Hurricane Melissa. She also recommends that the Government introduce temporary tax credits or write-offs for small businesses that contribute goods, services, or labour to the national recovery effort.

“We believe that this will encourage more philanthropy and relief interventions by other MSMEs,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

The Government has already waived GCT on essential recovery-related materials, which has provided some relief to smaller players participating in aid work. However, the association is also appealing for additional measures to boost economic circulation, which it says is equally important to national stability. The YEA recommends that a portion of relief funding be directed toward the direct engagement of MSMEs in recovery contracts to deliver the goods and services necessary for rebuilding.

“Micro and small enterprises can be paid to cook meals, transport supplies, clear debris, repair infrastructure, and provide community logistics and sanitation services,” she told the Sunday Finance.

The association is also recommending the creation of a National MSME Recovery Registry to develop a digital database of MSMEs and logistics providers, including transport, warehousing, heavy equipment, ICT, and drone operators, to streamline contracting for ongoing emergency response. This, it says, would ensure transparency, efficiency, and equal opportunity for participation. Additionally, an accelerated payment programme for MSME contractors is being proposed for businesses participating in the Government’s procurement process. According to Williams, this could look like implementing a fast-track payment mechanism to ensure MSMEs receive payment within 15 days, maintaining liquidity and cash flow to bolster outreach efforts. The group further recommends public procurement flexibility for recovery, temporarily adjusting regulations under the Public Procurement Act to allow simplified, transparent engagement of MSMEs for rapid response works under the supervision of the relevant governing body.

In the agricultural sector, the YEA is urging targeted support to rebuild the island’s food supply chain. It has proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries provide seed funding, replanting grants, and equipment replacement subsidies to small farmers and processors affected by Hurricane Melissa. The group also recommends boosting output in less affected parishes to counter the looming food shortage and stabilise prices. The YEA is further advocating stronger transparency and coordination across recovery efforts. It wants all organisations collecting relief funds to be formally registered, with full financial disclosure and clear objectives, and is proposing a national relief coordination dashboard to improve real-time accountability and donor confidence. To maintain private-sector participation, the association is also recommending public recognition and business engagement campaigns, including a “Buy Jamaican, Rebuild Jamaica” initiative to drive local demand and support domestic producers during the recovery period.

“These measures will not only restore economic activity but also transform the recovery process into a regenerative cycle where every dollar spent multiplies its impact by creating jobs, stimulating entrepreneurship, and strengthening community resilience,” Williams said. “By mobilising Jamaica’s entrepreneurial spirit and aligning relief with sustainable development, we can emerge from this crisis stronger, more self-reliant, and more united than before.”