By Vanessa Braithwaite
THE newly-formed Linden Business Group which comprises of more than 50 business owners in Linden has taken a decision to work together rather than against each other, so they can benefit from a level playing field.

The group believes that this is a perfect approach to tackle the growing competition of foreign and outside businesses. This unanimous decision was taken at a very candid and informative meeting held on Wednesday evening.

Present was the Minister of Business, Hemraj Rajkumar; Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Valarie Yearwood, who holds the hat of director of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) and representatives from the Small Businesses Bureau, Go Invest, LEN, Citizen Bank and Republic Bank.

One of the bleeding concerns of the local business operators is the growing presence of foreign businesses in the town, which they deemed as a deterrent to the local economy.
Chairman of the group, Garfield Shepherd, piloted the call, which was accepted by all and sundry, to network, not for individual good, but for the good of the economy of the township. To push this forward, the group has already commenced implementing a database of each business operator and this will enable them to pool their resources together to purchase goods and supplies from one supplier, rather than to access same from second and third parties, which will have a domino effect on prices.
Shepherd mulled that each group of businesses will access finances collectively, purchase collectively and share information, so that the wealth will be disbursed collectively. He urged the excited business owners to let honesty be the key and in the long run, the benefits will be bountiful.

This move was endorsed by Minister Yearwood, who urged the business owners to keep their prices competitive since that is one of the major reasons competitors are having the upper hand in the town. She also urged them to be aggressive towards what they want to achieve since it is for the better good of the town.

LEN IS PREGNANT WITH MONEY
Yearwood, who is also a director at LEN, urged the business owners to fully utilise the funding available for business loans at LEN. She said a significant amount of the monies made available, through government funding, is sitting in the bank.
Now that LEN has raised the ceiling from $1M, she urged them to have this money disbursed into the town. “The money is not there to build interest in the bank, it is to disburse in the Linden, we are coming to the end of the year and we need to get the money into your hands,” she said.

She also urged the business owners to be innovative and to think agro-processing, which is in keeping with the President’s vision.

“We have more sellers than buyers…. maybe you have fruit trees and want to make some jelly, you can come and get a loan to add to that and bring your business to reality. Lindeners, we have so many resources, you don’t have to go and sell like everybody else.”
SBB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Lowell Porter, urged the business owners to take advantage of the local help desk located at the Linden Mayor and Town Council. Similar encouragement and advice were given by the other lending institutions present.
At the meeting, the business owners were also asked to share their ideas for development. One of these was the construction of a Mahdia Park at a location demarcated opposite the Wismar Market. This park is expected to bring great transformation the town, bring increased sales to the Wismar Market vendors and by extension, much benefit to the entire business community of Linden.

The Business Group promises to continue holding engagements with regional and government officials to have their concerns aired and to make the necessary representation for each member.