Small business loan keeps fisherfolk afloat

Like her neighbours in the rural fishing village of Portland Cottage in Clarendon, Ann-Marie Daley's life and livelihood were ravaged by the 'brutish' Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

"I lost my chicken coop, I lost my boat, I lost everything," the JN Small Business Loans Limited (JNSBL) client recounted.

Losing her boat was especially traumatic, as fishing was a major source of her income and heritage, as her father was a fisherman, while her mother sold fish on the beach. And, although she operates a bar in the community and rears chickens, fishing remains her core operation and source of joy, even today.

"Fishing is what my father did to earn an income, so he could send us to school," she said proudly. "And, when I was growing up my father said to me, 'You should always own a boat," advice that she continues to follow.

Fishing, with its many risks, is not always lucrative, Daley underscored; however, it is the trade she treasures most and has found to be the most dependable.

"There have been good times and bad times with fishing, but it is my main business," she said. "I cannot live without a boat." So, when Hurricane Ivan descended on the south coast of Jamaica on the evening of September 11, 2004, the impact was devastating.

Income needed

With her regular income disrupted, the usually reticent mother of three adult children realised that she needed some funds to restart her business. Based on advice from her sister, she sought JNSBL.

Hesitant at first about revealing her financial affairs, she applied for the loan to jump-start her operations. In the process, she also formed a solid working relationship with her field officer, Nicola Goulbourne, who maintains that, "Ms Daley demonstrated that her operation was a very sustainable one despite the associated risks; and, as a result we supported her enterprises; and provided her with loan funds to assist her to get back on track."

"Thanks to JNSBL I re-established my chicken rearing operation, stocked up my bar, and tried to re-start my fishing business a few months later," she said, unaware that unforeseen circumstances would cause her to call on the loan company for assistance again.

On a trip into Kingston to do some business in 2005, the car, which she borrowed from a friend to make the journey, was stolen.

"I had to pay back for the car; although I was still paying my loan. I went back to 'Ms G' and I told her about the situation; and she encouraged me to just keep trying," Ms Daley related adding that Ms Goulbourne would often give her useful advice about the management of her small operations.

To raise more cash to manage the business and cover her loan expenses, she added a new dimension to her operation. Each weekend she held a community session, providing music and seafood for the residents. The proceeds from the venture assisted with paying for the car, which she eventually completed in late 2006.

She then took another loan from JNSBL to upgrade her bar. But some months after receiving the loan, Hurricane Dean struck in August 2007.

"When the hurricane came it took the roof from my house again; and this time it finished the boat. I did not know what to do," she said.

Special call

Then one afternoon while she was at home contemplating her next move, she received a phone call from her JNSBL Field Officer, Ms Goulbourne. "Lawd have mercy! Dem must want me to pay off all of the loan now!" was the first thought to enter her mind.

"I worried until she got to my house. When she drove up to the gate, she got out and walked straight pass me with a camera in her hand. She started looking up at the house and taking pictures. Then, she turned to me, and told me about a hurricane recovery loan. And, said that I could get one." Ms Daley almost broke down, as she recalled that meeting.

She subsequently received the emergency loan from JNSBL to assist with her business recovery. She used the funds to re-stock her bar and re-establish her chicken business, once again. And, most important to Ms Daley, the proceeds from those establishments were used to purchase a new boat.

Today, Ms Daley's successful operations provide employment for seven people in Portland Cottage. She now employs two women, on a full-time basis, in her bar; two men on a part-time basis, on the weekend, who prepare a range of seafood items; and three fishermen, who venture on the seas weekly.