BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) held its 67th Annual General Meeting yesterday (Feb. 24) at the Ocean Terrace Inn, where the newly-elected President, José Rosa vowed to take the private sector organisation to a new level.
In delivering his inaugural address before a packed audience that included his predecessor Damion Hobson; Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Commerce the Hon. Lindsay Grant; and members of the Diplomatic Corps, Rosa pledged his dedication to the CIC and promised to work hand-in-hand with the powers that be in the interest of the country.
“I pledge today my commitment, passion and dedication to the Chamber. I promise to work for the private sector and to collaborate with the Government of the Federation in reaching new frontiers that benefit the future of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The Puerto Rico national and General Manager of Kajola Kristada Limited, who is also the Federation’s Honorary Consul to Mexico, has been a resident of the twin-island for the past 11 eleven years.
He told the gathering that, as the new President, he believes the Chamber must always add value to member businesses.
“This must be our number one priority. People join organisations for what they can get out of such membership. The Board of Directors will work with dedication and tenacity to ensure that members get value for their membership. The active participation of the members in the various activities, meetings and other forums are important and key to the continued development of the organisation in order to take it to the next level.”
Directing remarks to his colleagues, Rosa said he was pleased that they are willing to be part of the new Board of Directors and to join him on the developmental journey during his tenure.
In his charge to the Board of Directors, the President categorically stated:“We should see ourselves as game changers who create an environment of honest discussion and openness for the private sector. We should be focused on meeting our common goals and on being accountable for our decisions.”
Rosa also briefly highlighted some areas of his vision, which he suggested the Board of Directors should pursue together to make the Chamber stronger and adaptable in order to deal with the opportunities and challenges that confront the private sector in the Federation.
He opined that one of the main goals would be to establish clear objectives that they could measure and monitor, which results would thereafter be presented to the CIC.
“As such, the agenda for this President and Board of Directors should include some of the following matters:
• The water supply problem and its impact on the growth of the private sector. We must determine how the private sector can work together with Government to solve this important issue;
• The cost of energy and the ability to invest in Renewable Energy sources in order to keep our costs manageable and our prices of goods and services competitive;
• The exploration of opportunities for the local business sector to participate in new developments, such as Park Hyatt, Embassy Suites, KOI resorts and others;
• The facilitation of the small business sector to identify areas for growth and improvement;
• The private sector collaboration with Government to tackle crime and other social issues;
• The participation of Chamber members in the decision-making process of the organisation. Members must be facilitated in bringing their ideas to various forums. This goal must be structured in a manner which ensures that the decisions and actions of the Chamber reflect the voice of its members;
• The importance of media houses collaborating with us to inform and educate civil society on the important role of the Chamber in the Federation. The Chamber will consistently share with the media – and the public – its opportunities, challenges and concerns in a constructive manner;
• The implementation of various manufacturing sector initiatives, such as the National Manufacturing Strategy and the Partial Scope Agreement with Brazil;
• The continued participation of the Chamber in discussions regarding trade negotiations, understanding the opportunities and benefits that such trade agreements can bring to the private sector;
• The identification of specific government projects in which the private sector can participate as a partner; and
• The importance of expanding and improving our relationships with the Embassies in St. Kitts and Nevis in order to identify international opportunities for trade and investment.”
Rosa is no stranger to the CIC. He had once held the position of President of the Manufacturing Council of that organisation.
Rosa made reference to those who had served at the helm of the CIC during its 67-year history, noting that the position of President has been occupied by a long line of distinguished business persons, many of whom have been pioneers in their fields.
“These persons have been dedicated to service for the well-being of the Country, without the expectation of recognition or remuneration. These individuals and a number of long-serving staff members throughout the years have been the backbone of this organisation, making the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber one of the most resilient and well-respected private sector organisations in the region. The Chamber’s ability to evolve and adapt to the continuing changes in the Federation is a testimony to the committed role of this type of organisation to the country and the rest of the Caribbean,” he added.
The newly-elected President was high in praise of a number of individuals, including Carol Evelyn who introduced him to the Chamber, Calvin Cable from whom he received advice, and the staff at Kajola Kristada and his son Adrian as well as other family members for the support they gave to him.
He however singled out past Presidents Michael Morton and David Lake for special commendation, noting that “both of them gave me the opportunity to serve as part of their Boards of Directors, and introduced me to the business environment of the country’.
He also commended immediate past President Damion Hobson “for the trust he vested in me as Vice President. Mr. Hobson led the Chamber during challenging times, taking on important and difficult decisions. He also created the foundation to be built on by this new President and the incoming Board of Directors”.
Rosa is of the conviction that the growth of the organisation’s membership over the past two years is largely due to the work done by “Mr. Hobson and his approach in bringing value to Chamber membership”.
