Government provide loan for disabled community
Published:Friday | May 2, 2008 | 12:24 PM
The government has set aside $100 million for members of the disabled community who are interested in becoming operators of small, medium and micro enterprises.
The sum is to be taken out of the $1 billion approved in the 2008/09 budget, to provide financial support to disabled persons.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the loan is to be administered through the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) at an annual rate of 10 percent with a one-year moratorium.
Mr. Golding said the funds must be used strictly for viable economic projects that can create jobs for the disabled.
He said the allocation does not prevent disabled persons from accessing loans from the general pool of $1 billion already set aside by the ministry from the National Insurance Fund, to provide financial support for the small business sector.
The Prime Minister said access to the loans would be widespread with several access points such as people’s cooperative banks and credit unions.
Mr. Golding said the details of the loan are to be worked out between the industry and commerce and labour and social security ministries and the DBJ.
A ministerial council is to be established to provide oversight for matters related to and affecting persons with disabilities.
The council will comprised the ministries of finance and social security and representatives of supporting institutions for persons with disabilities.