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Four entrepreneurs welcome President Michel in Pointe Larue |25 September 2015

President James Michel yesterday visited small businesses in the Pointe Larue district. This forms part of his ongoing visits to various districts to see for himself what those businesses are experiencing.

The president was accompanied by the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation, Michael Benstrong, the principal secretary for Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation Marise Berlouis, member of the National Assembly for Pointe Larue Jennifer Jasmin, district administrator Julita Adela and senior officials in the Office of the President.

President Michel visited Maryline Reine’s Praise and Faith Take-Away, Margarette Chang-Time’s Maggy’s Day Care Centre, Regis Bristol’s Island Bakery and Patrick Joseph’s garage.

Like in most districts, businesses in Pointe Larue are also experiencing problems but the owners have been displaying a strong sense of resilience to stay in business.

The Praise and Faith Take-Away is facing increasing health and safety demands from the health authorities even though it has complied with most of them.

Maggy’s Day Care is facing rising expenses but cannot raise the childminding rate as it will affect parents greatly. Ms Chang-Time said she cannot take more kids as she has to comply with the quota.

Mr Bristol of Island Bakery is quite happy with the performance of his business but feels it is a bit off the main road and people do not really see that it exists. He was advised by the President to have a signboard installed near the road.

As for Mr Joseph he is experiencing problems with neighbours as his garage is situated in a residential area.

He has expressed the wish to have another location, preferably in Pointe Larue.

Speaking to the media after the tour, Minister Benstrong said yesterday’s visit was a continuation of the visits to small businesses in various districts of the country where Seychellois who have started off their businesses at home now need to move to the next level as those have expanded.

He said the challenges most small businesses keep coming up with are the difficulties encountered with different authorities in regards to the standards imposed.

“What we are seeing is that certain authorities are not being accommodative. They do not give a timeframe for the entrepreneurs to start their business and later comply with other standards as requested,” said the minister, citing the Praise and Faith Take-Away as a clear example.

He added that the take-away business was to be operational as soon as it was completed but other demands that are not directly related to the good functioning of the business were being imposed.

“On one side we understand their regulations to maintain a good standard on health and hygiene. At the same time there should be more flexibility where a timeframe is accorded to the entrepreneur to comply with,” said the minister.

He added that entrepreneurs become frustrated when they don’t get the necessary licences because they have already used the money in setting up their business.

Regarding the issue that maybe business regulations in the country have been written in a way to cater for big businesses, Minister Benstrong said his ministry is working with the relevant partners to re-look at their business framework so as to be more accommodative.

“For example instated of telling a person from day one that he/she should have all the facilities ready before starting operation, you can tell him/her the most important things he/she needs to have in place and give him/her a timeframe of at least six months to have the rest in place,” said the minister.

The accompanying photos show highlights of President Michel’s Pointe Larue visit.

 

 

 

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