I am honoured to serve as the 30th president of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce and I look forward to working with the Council and staff to accomplish some key goals and objectives that further the goals of the Chamber as set out in our founding documents.
To that end we recently held a strategic planning session that resulted in a three-year strategic action plan that we intend to implement through 2014. Simply put, our focus will be on four words: Relationships, Innovation, Advocacy and Influence.
The Chamber will strive to become more INNOVATIVE in its operations by introducing cutting edge communication tools, products and services to better serve its mission and charter.
Innovation may also take the form of revising some of the ways we handle internal processes and other methods of new member outreach in order to bring more members into the Chamber, particularly from the small to medium size enterprises.
The Chamber will continue to be a strong and regular ADVOCATE for the positions supported by the membership. A public policy survey will be released in the New Year to update and re-confirm which matters are of greatest importance to you, the members of the Chamber. I feel strongly that respectful advocacy of the position of business is a key role of the Chamber; what’s good for business is generally good for the economy.
We will work diligently to nurture and develop our RELATIONSHIPS with the membership, Government officials and the wider community so that everyone is aware of this organisation’s outstanding work and its positions on key matters.
By becoming more innovative, advocating the views of the membership and creating positive working relationships, we will become increasingly INFLUENTIAL and respected in our work. We will build an even stronger, more vibrant organisation.
These are challenging times for us all, but with challenges come opportunities. It is with this in mind that I look forward to the coming year as a year of new opportunities. I am a firm believer in the power of relationships.
We are currently organising a trade mission to Panama (our fourth since 2006) to explore cost effective trade and investment possibilities between our countries. These have been very successful in the past and we are pleased to be able to bring this opportunity to our members once again on 19-23 March.
We are also excited about some new ideas for small and medium size businesses including the completed development of a Chamber Health Insurance Plan, and human resources and business coaching assistance.
Included in this small business ‘push’ is an increased effort to advocate for the concerns of this sector and the development of realistic proposals that can provide some level of support and encouragement to our economic sustainability.
This does not mean that the Chamber will take its eye off the concerns of other sectors of business. However, with my personal experience in SME’s, it is only natural that this sector be highlighted during the term I hold the presidency.
Feeding into this is of course our continuing commitment to the Future of Cayman economic development initiative. This private public partnership is up and running with over 100 people volunteering their time and expertise to the five driver committees and steering committee.
We are starting to see tangible results, which are building an excellent platform for future economic progress and sustainability. Our second Future of Cayman Forum will be held on November 2nd. I ask that you consider ways that you can assist the work of one of these driver groups by learning more about them on the futureofcayman.com website.
Other items on the agenda for the coming year are
the review of the term limit policy;
- the development of a national energy policy;
- the United Kingdom/Overseas Territory relationship review;
- the Trade and Business Licensing Law and Regulation review;
- the Proposed Data Protection legislation;
- the Anti-corruption legislation and its implementation in business;
- the Financial Framework Agreement signed between the Cayman Government and the United Kingdom;
- the proposed amendments to the National Pensions Law and Regulations and the Labour Law; and
- the ongoing reviews of Government departments and agencies; to name but a few.
My commitment is to work hard for our membership and to live up to the leadership and vision displayed by the many outstanding past presidents who have served before me.
The Council is here for our membership and we look forward to any feedback you would like to offer us throughout the year.
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