The first two business owners to be compensated as a part of the government's program to assist entrepreneurs adversely affected by the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) collectively received about $14,000, according to Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.
Ingraham told reporters on Monday that the business owners received about $7,000 each.
Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing revealed that the two small businesses were compensated through the Jump Start Programme, which gives grants of up to $7,500 per business.
He was unable to provide the exact amounts that the two small businesses received.
On March 21, the Ministry of Finance began conducting a door-to-door survey to determine how adversely businesses along the corridors of the project have been impacted.
Prime Minister Ingraham told reporters the process is going well.
"People are being cooperative," he said, adding that the questionnaires were collected last week. He said the information gathered is currently being analyzed.
"The government will make some efforts at compensation to some extent, either by way of relief in payment of taxes, or if it is a small business, some cash grants," Ingraham said.
One of the two business people compensated was a hairdresser whose business is on Prince Charles Drive.
Ingraham said she was able to demonstrate that road works affected her financially.
"We will do so for others as we are able to verify the information we get," he added.
The survey seeks details regarding respective business establishments' expenses, revenue, profits and accounts receivable and payable during the period 2007 to 2011, according to officials.
As to whether he thinks the controversial road works will hurt the Free National Movement's campaign, Ingraham said, "I hope voters will be happy."

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