Dignitaries and local business representatives gathered in their finery Saturday evening for a special celebration of champagne, dinner, speeches and style to mark 40 years of the Chamber of Commerce in the Cayman Islands.
The event, which took place at The Marriott Beach Resort saw Chamber President Joseph Hew give an overview of the Chamber which was established in September 1965. Research was initially done by civil servant Harry McCoy, assigned by Administrator John Cumber. Ten merchants and business leaders of the time from the districts in Grand Cayman agreed to serve as the founders, including Mr. Anton B. Bodden, Cardinal DaCosta, A. Colin Panton, J.B. Smith, Harry McCoy, William S. Walker, Derek Wight, Capt. Theo Bodden, Warren Conolly, T.W. Farrington. Of the 10, four served in the Legislative Assembly.
After falling dormant, the Chamber was reconstituted in 1967 with 22 members. First directors included Capt. Theo Bodden, Clifton Hunter, Mrs. Veta Bodden. Mr. Paul Harris was administrative secretary.
‘By 1973 the Chamber had grown to 145 members – an increase of more than 600 per cent, said Mr. Hew.
He continued, ‘In the first year the Chamber addressed problems such as the improvement of air travel and postal services, the implementation of the Trade and Business Licensing Law, the problem of old car wrecks that littered the island at the time, and relations between native Caymanians and foreign expatriates. The Chamber also recommended during that year that the islands adopt a decimal currency based upon the US dollar.’
He spoke about the Chamber today having nearly 700 members, whose businesses represent all industry sectors and employ nearly 16,000 workers. Mr. Hew mentioned some of the programmes introduced in part or in whole by the Chamber such as The Chamber Pension Plan, the Business Expo and the Employee Assistance Programme.
‘The Chamber remains a vibrant organisation that is committed to fulfilling its original objectives: to promote and protect trade and the public welfare of these, the beautiful Cayman Islands.’
Jamaican Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Jamaica P.J. Patterson was introduced by Honorary Jamaica Consul Mr. Robert Hamaty as the unprecedented four-term Prime Minister who assumed office as Head of Government in 1992. ‘As Prime Minister of Jamaica, he has led the transformation from an inherited economy that was based on protectionism, state incentives and export industry encouragement, to a modern democratic state and economy that is open, globally competitive, inclusive and socially cohesive’.
In his address, along with warning the Cayman Islands against discrimination towards Jamaicans (see Caymanian Compass 24 October) the Prime Minister spoke positively about the common bonds that link the two countries.
He spoke about the Cayman Islands being an overseas extension of the local government of the parish of Westmoreland in Jamaica. ‘Since the constituency I have represented these many years is in that parish, chances are I could have been your Member of Parliament if history had taken a different turn!’
He reminded the audience of ‘the many Jamaicans who practice their professions here and contribute immensely to the progress of this territory’.
He spoke of a thriving trading relationship between the two countries. ‘Cayman is an important market for Jamaica products – mainly food, beverages and chemicals, while Cayman provides us with a range of special goods.
‘The phenomenon of globalisation and the attendant challenges it presents for small economies such as those in the Caribbean has led to new links between our two countries and the other countries of the English-speaking Caribbean.’
Trade
Mr. Patterson also noted the Cayman Islands’ associate membership of CARICOM and urged it to become more involved.
‘In the evolving international environment for trade, it is recognised that we are engaged in an ongoing struggle to preserve the policy space for meeting our development objectives, even as we witness the erosion of the preferential arrangements for our traditional exports such as bananas, sugar, rum and rice, particularly European markets.’
He said the Cayman Islands Chamber of commerce must play a greater role in understanding and influencing the various institutional arrangements within CARICOM, the Free Trade Area of the Americas and the World Trade Organisation’s processes.
He referred to Grace Caribbean Fixed Income Fund, listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange, as a positive trend, which he would like to see replicated.
He spoke about Jamaica’s firm commitment to fostering and deepening its traditional ‘good neighbourly’ relations with the Caymanian people and congratulated Cayman on the successful recovery made after Hurricane Ivan.
Dignitaries present for the event were Governor Bruce Dinwiddy and his wife Emma, Minister for Tourism, Environment, Investment and Commerce Charles Clifford, Minister for Health and Human Services Anthony Eden, Attorney General Sam Bulgin, MLA Lucille Seymour and Senator of Jamaica, Noel Sloley.
Special Awards
Founders awards were presented to: Cardinal DaCosta, Warren Conolly, Derek Wight, Harry McCoy.
Oldest member awards went to Appleby Spurling Hunter, Bodden Shipping Agency and Walkers.
Companies awarded as members for 30 years or more: Artifacts Ltd., Cayman Distributors Ltd., Cayman Free Press Ltd., Vampt Motors Ltd. and Hobbies & Books Ltd.
Also given awards were Benson O. Ebanks, Norberg K. Thompson, William S. Walker, Keith Parker Tibbetts, William H. Adam, Seth Thomas Bodden, David G. Bird, Roy M. McTaggart, Robert Wood, Casey Gill, Gaila Hall, W. Burns Conolly, Conor O’Dea and Sophia-Ann Harris.
Past Managers awards were presented to: Gordon Barlow (’86 to ’88); Mario Ebanks (’88 – ’91); Phillip Hinds (’91 – ’94); and Wil Pineau (’94 – present).
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