Times of the Islands Fall 2020

But that doesn’t mean anxiety disappeared. For
island business owners, economic concerns are still paramount
despite the TCI now being “open,” and the way
forward is anything but clear and easy. Small businesses
have accrued debt for close to half of the year and have
likely used up any contingency funds. New realities like
reduced business, the possibility that borders could close
again, and concerns about the virus itself—all set against
the backdrop of a complete cessation of income during
some of our busiest months—makes the path ahead difficult
to navigate.
Needless to say, these “uncertain times” will be with
us for some time to come. The next six to eight months
will see most small businesses trying to “get back to
zero.” A common opinion seems to be that, by March
2021, a full year after the shutdown, businesses hope to
be able to see the way forward more clearly. Until then
the new normal is simply learning how to get by, one day
at a time.
With all of that said, there is a spirit of optimism
beginning to permeate the country. Caribbean residents
are no stranger to weathering meteorological and economic
storms. There is a resiliency that runs through the
community here, buoyed up by the faith that “this too
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