A Stabroek Business Feature
If the authorities can hardly be blamed for putting a brave face on what, in many instances, has been the commendable efforts of small and micro businesses, notably those in the agriculture, craft and agro processing sectors, to ‘soak up’ the pressures of the covid-19 pandemic, we need to be mindful that we not extend this focus into the realm of the illusionary.
Amongst the small and micro businesses across Guyana the pandemic has had a devastating even if significantly under-reported effect. This has been so particularly in the instances of those contact-intensive sectors in the small scale manufacturing, food, entertainment and vending sectors. As a result – and we have been able to determine this on account of our coverage of small businesses during the period of the pandemic, so far – here in Guyana there is the possibility of significant numbers of permanent micro and small business closures or at least a downsizing of many once thriving ventures.
