businesses get on -- and stay on their feet.

Community Affairs Minister the Hon. Wayne Furbert said the capital of the Small Business Development Corporation would be increased so that applicants would be able to get bigger loan guarantees and the Corporation would be able to help more entrepreneurs.

Mr. Furbert said the Corporation deserved the help given its track record.

Government would also be introducing tendering and buying policies aimed at helping small businesses get a fair share of Government contracts and purchases, he said.

And it would look into ways of ensuring small businesses benefit from opportunities on the US bases as the Americans withdraw. Two tours of the base have been organised small business persons for next Tuesday. And the Corporation would be available to assist them in putting in bids.

He urged the private sector to also help small businesses get work.

Mr. Furbert said that since 1980 the Small Business Development Corporation had guaranteed $5.6 million in loans covering 323 small businesses.

Over that period the Corporation had been called on to pay out $554,000 for 32 clients which was just under 10 percent of the total number of guarantees.

"The Government feels that this number is very heartening when one considers the inherently risky nature of this type of venture,'' he said.

He added the Corporation had recovered $59,000 of the paid-out amount and on-going repayments were being made.

As of November 30, the Corporation guarantees outstanding stood at $1.9 million.

The Corporation can guarantee up to 10 percent of its capital and the amount guaranteed at any time cannot exceed four times its capital.

Mr. Furbert also announced a committee of the Corporation's board had been set up to review its laws and policies and determine if more power should be given to the Board in assisting small businesses. And he said the Corporation would be increasing the number of seminars it holds for small businesses.

Mr. Furbert said small businesses made up some 75 percent of the local business sector. The Corporation was started in 1980 to assist small businesses in obtaining financing by guaranteeing loans and then giving on-going technical advice.