February 23, 2021 Government has “largely sidelined” small businesses and entrepreneurs struggling to survive during the current lockdown, the Democratic Labour Party shadow spokesman on business Ryan Walters has charged. In a statement on Monday, Walters, who insisted the small business community deserve “some level of respect”, pointed to the administration’s handling of the concerns of public service vehicle owners and operators as well as the treatment of small shops. He said: “It is not at all surprising that the plea for assistance from the Alliance of Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) has fallen on deaf ears. The AOPT has been recently calling on Government to give assistance to its members during the pause similar to what has been provided to other small businesses.”