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MSMEs encouraged to create business continuity plans

Published:Thursday | June 12, 2025 | 12:08 AM
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Acting Director General at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson (left), contributes to discussions during a Hurricane Ready & Resilient forum on Tuesday, June 10, at the United Nations Development Programme
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Acting Director General at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson (left), contributes to discussions during a Hurricane Ready & Resilient forum on Tuesday, June 10, at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi Country Office in Kingston. At right is UNDP Communications Analyst, Gillian Scott.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Jamaica, Kishan Khoday (left), addresses a panel during a Hurricane Ready & Resilient forum on Tuesday (June 10) at the UNDP Multi Country Office in Kingston. Listening is UNDP Communi
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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Jamaica, Kishan Khoday (left), addresses a panel during a Hurricane Ready & Resilient forum on Tuesday (June 10) at the UNDP Multi Country Office in Kingston. Listening is UNDP Communications Analyst, Gillian Scott.
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Entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium-“It’s really a deliberate process to ensure that the businesses are anticipating, they are mitigating against issues, they are resolving issues regarding the effects of disasters that will impact the business,” he pointed out.

Thompson noted that one critical aspect of business continuity is ensuring that businesses plan their recovery process.

As such, owners and operators should make sure that all important documents, plans and business concepts are stored securely in the event of a natural disaster.

“One other thing as well that businesses have to pay critical attention to is what is called single point of failure. One of the things that we have noticed for a very long time and it was highlighted during [Hurricane] Beryl, is that energy generation, especially around electricity, is the critical point of failure for a lot of businesses,” he pointed out.

The ODPEM director said it is, therefore, important that businesses, especially those that rely heavily on electricity, have a back-up plan for power generation.

Another crucial element that is often overlooked by small entrepreneurs, he noted, is ensuring that businesses are registered so they can receive benefits from the State.

“A lot of small farmers are not registered. So, because they are not registered, it becomes difficult after a disaster for them to get grants coming out of RADA (Rural Agricultural Development Authority) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining” Thompson said.

In her remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Marsha Henry-Martin, emphasised the importance of providing support for MSMEs to navigate disasters.

She pointed out that it is also important to understand the individual realities and unique characteristics of each business, their locations and their vulnerabilities.

“As a Local Government Ministry, with responsibility for local communities, one of our mantras is that we’re not leaving anybody behind … every community matters, every district matters … every individual matters. Their quality of life must always be at the forefront, and whatever it is that they do to sustain themselves is what we should nurture,” the Permanent Secretary said.

She noted that the ministry must ensure that the Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Policy, which is being finalised, sufficiently considers MSMEs and their sustainability.

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