BASETTERRE, St. Kitts – AMIDST expressions of gratitude for being elected new President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC), local entrepreneur Damion Hobson has pledged that during his tenure as President, he would be addressing energy cost issues with which the private sector is faced.
Hobson made this declaration yesterday during the CIC’s Annual General Meeting held at the Ocean Terrace Inn.
He revealed that in effort to address exorbitant energy cost issues, the Energy Committee must be resuscitated.
“As tides and business situations change, the Chamber has to change to ensure that we remain relevant to the needs of its members. One areas common to all business is the cost of energy; hence one of my official areas of concentration will be the reenergizing of the Energy Committee to consult the government on the various options on how alternative systems can reduce energy cost to the business and residential consumers in a sustainable manner.”
Other areas of interest for the new executive body would be the increased membership of CIC, broadening its communication base, increasing dialogue with government and strengthening the international position of the Chamber.
The elected President challenged Chamber members to be proactive in an ever-changing global environment emphasizing that new programmes need to be set up to deal with globalization.
“I strongly believe that in order to add value and make a difference, the Chamber must address in a focused...manner, the challenges of rapid change in globalization.”
President Hobson said he was honoured to be at the helm of what he calls “one of the leading chambers” in the region, a portfolio not everyone gets to hold.
He noted that the Chamber would soon be undertaking a survey to have members make recommendations and gather feedback on ways that the Chamber can better serve its members.
“I’m particularly thankful that this chamber is still one of the leading chambers in the OECS and I implore you that it’s not only with your support and it is through your support and active participation that we can move forward the agenda of the organization.
“I’m deeply grateful for the trust and confidence to you the members of the Chamber have placed in me by electing me as president and I will do my best to live up to that honour.”
Hobson replaced David Lake as President but will not function in that capacity until March 2014.
He expressed profound gratitude to all the predecessors who paved the way for him to be elected to the position
“I have pledged to build on the ground work they have laid and take the Chamber forward from strength to strength.”
