When Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica, it brought more than fierce winds and heavy rain; it also upended the livelihood of many small business owners.

Among those affected was Andrea Knox, a shopkeeper in Lime Hall, St Ann, whose business operations were disrupted when the Category 5 storm blew the roof off the shop.

Knox, who has been operating the shop for the past five years and lives nearby, was forced to make a hasty decision to limit further losses.

“During the calm, we went down there and saved what we could. Family members came and helped carry the things to my home,” said Knox, who pointed out that she suffered a similar fate during Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

In addition to losing the roof of her shop, a small sound system and a television, which were soaked during the storm, were destroyed.

The prolonged power outage further compounded her losses, as three boxes of ice cream, several pounds of chicken, and other refrigerated items were spoilt.

She estimates that the loss of goods amounted to approximately $200,000, while repairs to the roof cost an estimated $250,000.
Unable to operate from her shop, Knox relied on temporary measures to support her household.

“I was selling from home for almost a month,” she said, adding that a portion of the roof of her house was also damaged during the hurricane.

With repairs to her shop urgently needed and limited resources available, the road to recovery initially seemed uncertain.

However, relief came soon after through the support of JN Bank Small Business Loans, where Knox had accessed a loan prior to the hurricane to bolster her business.

“They give me a two-month payment holiday, so for two months I never had to pay anything,” she shared.

According to Knox, she was especially grateful to receive a call from her client relations officer, Lafene Walker Richards, who explained the support options available to help her recover after the hurricane.

Beyond the payment holiday, the bank also restructured her loan to assist her longer-term recovery.

Through the restructuring process, additional funds were made available to her and the life of her loan was extended to help cover repair costs to enable her to restart her business operations.

“I got some money to fix the roof and buy back some stock. I feel good. I can rely on them,” declared Knox.

With repairs completed and her shop restocked, Knox is relieved to be back on her feet.

“Things return to normal now. The shop back up and running even better now, because I have a new roof,” she shared.

Cian Murphy, client relations manager, at JN Bank Small Business Loans, said supporting clients in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa has been a critical part of the company’s commitment to the small business sector, particularly for those whose livelihoods were severely disrupted.

“We have been working closely with affected clients to provide temporary relief measures aimed at reducing financial strain and enabling recovery.  Small business owners are often the backbone of their communities, and when a disaster strikes, it is essential that they receive the right support to help them bounce back.

“In Mrs Knox’s case, the two-month payment holiday was designed to give her the breathing space she needs to repair damage, restock her shop and begin generating income again, without the immediate pressure of loan repayments,” said Murphy.

She pointed out that such interventions by JN Bank go beyond short-term relief and are intended to preserve long-term business viability.

“By easing repayment obligations during this critical period, we are helping our clients to stabilise their operations,” added Murphy who noted that JN Small Business Loans remains committed to providing the necessary support to enable their customers to recover their businesses.

She also pointed out that beyond payment holidays, JN Bank Small Business Loans has been restructuring the loans of clients whose businesses were significantly impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Murphy explained that restructuring is tailored to each client’s circumstances and is intended to make loan obligations more manageable while businesses work toward recovery.

“Loan restructuring allows us to adjust repayment terms in a way that reflects a client’s current reality. This may include extending the loan period, reducing monthly payments, or revising repayment schedules so clients can better align their obligations with reduced or fluctuating income following the hurricane,” said Murphy.

She added that this level of flexibility is critical to help entrepreneurs regain stability and avoid long-term setbacks.

“Our goal is to help our clients remain financially viable over the long term. By restructuring loans where necessary, we are giving small business owners the opportunity to protect their livelihoods,” Murphy declared.