Small business owner's plea for help

I urge the Finance Minister to reconsider the conditions announced in the Budget to help SMEs and the self-employed. Responding to a radio advert sponsored by Malta Enterprise, I discovered that there are no soft loans yet available.

The condition of this measure is tied to investing your own money (whether you have it or not) and claiming 40 per cent of the expenditure from your income tax at the end of the year, if you had made a hefty profit.

Question is: Has anyone made a profit in 2009? Many small businesses are facing closure and even worse are being thrown out of their houses by the banks.

My business is sick and needs a cure. What I need is a cash injection to pay the €2,500 monthly rent, pay the wages of my eight employees and invest in a good marketing campaign. I do not expect a handout but at least a soft loan.

Time has run out and the bank is adamant about their position (no more overdrafts or loans).

The Finance Minister and all social partners acknowledge our problems. Now we beg for help.