Small business owners operating from Savvy On The Bay in Bay Street, St Michael, have nothing to fear, says Minister of Housing and Lands Christopher Gibbs in response to reaction to an advertisement over the sale of nearby land.
“We do not want anyone to be alarmed by the process. Small business owners operating from Savvy On The Bay have nothing to be worried about and can expect proper access and facilities at the end of this process. Our aim as a Government is to encourage entrepreneurship, not to shut down businesses,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Legal procedure
He explained that while formal notices regarding the acquisition of the adjacent car park area will soon appear in the press, it was a standard legal procedure aimed at enhancing the area.
Gibbs added that from the inception of the redevelopment plans, Government has remained steadfast in its position: the longterm vision for the site fully integrates the existing small businesses.
The Minister said the acquisition process is focused on the car park to ensure the preservation of public access to one of the most popular beaches.
“We have been straight from the beginning. Our intention has always been to accommodate the existing businesses which in fact were initially given a limited lease. The land on which they are operating has always been owned by the Government.” ( PR/AC)
Read my lips