Health City chief business officer Shomari Scott was anointed as Cayman’s new Chamber of Commerce chief Monday and immediately vowed to help small businesses recover from the devastation of the pandemic.
Scott, a former Cayman Islands director of tourism, said the industry had begun to turn the corner following the lifting of many of the COVID control regulations.
But he warned there was more to be done before the businesses and workers that depend on tourism can breathe easy.
“We realise it will take much more sweat on the brow and time for businesses in the tourism sector to return to pre-pandemic levels,” he said.
“Filling hundreds of tourism positions, restarting small businesses that serve the industry and promoting the destination places considerable pressure on the industry and government agencies alike.”
Scott, a former winner of the Young Caymanian Leadership Award, formally took over the role of president at the Chamber’s annual general meeting at the Westin resort. Hundreds of business leaders from across Cayman gathered at the hotel as Mike Gibbs passed on the torch to his successor.
Nelson Dilbert, owner of the Cayman Spirits Company, now becomes ‘president elect’.
Scott said the Chamber council had developed a good relationship with the new government during Gibbs’s tenure and hoped to continue that dialogue to help restore the economy.
Citing labour reform, workforce development and increased inward investment as key goals, he said it was vital that the private and public sector formed a “trusting partnership”.
‘Chamber of the people’
Scott said he would work to alter any misconceptions that the Chamber is an elitist organisation, pointing out that 75% of its members have fewer than 10 employees.
“We are a true association of small business entrepreneurs.
“This year, we will ensure everyone recognises who we truly represent. We are Chamber of the people and the component parts of the engine that drives the economy,” he said.
“Small businesses have been impacted the most during the pandemic and we must do everything we can to assist them to recover and succeed,” he added.
Scott said the Chamber would also look to support entrepreneurship in schools and continue to provide training opportunities and support to developing businesses.
Governor highlights ‘special relationship’
Governor Martyn Roper, who gave the keynote address at the AGM, praised business leaders for their role in a joint community effort to battle the pandemic.
“We have had one of the best responses in the world and all of you here today can be proud of the roles you have played,” he said.
Roper added that the COVID response had highlighted the special relationship between Cayman and the United Kingdom, which he hopes will endure and strengthen during his final year in the post.
He said the provision of thousands of free vaccines had helped demonstrate the value of the link “better than anything in recent memory”.
“The vaccines have undoubtedly saved hundreds of precious lives in Cayman,” he said, “and I am pleased to now offer them to all 5-11 year olds whose parents want them to have it.”
Climate and security
He highlighted the UK Foreign Office’s Conflict Stability and Security Fund as an ongoing source of investment for Cayman in key areas including border security, climate change and pandemic management.
So far, around $5 million worth of projects – including an ongoing climate risk assessment – have been sanctioned from that fund.
The governor also highlighted technical aid provided to Cayman in improving child safeguarding in the territory, adding that there is still “much to do” to break cultural barriers and taboos in that area.
He highlighted sustainable transport, road safety and developments in the civil service as continuing issues to address over the next year.
He added. “I remain very optimistic and confident about the future as we bounce back from this pandemic.”
New leadership team
Dart Enterprises chief of staff Joanne Lawson was nominated as a new vice president of the Chamber, while Colin Robinson, director of Strategic Risk Solutions, stays on as treasurer.
Dave Johnston of Corporate Electric will be the Chamber’s secretary, while Steve Bramwell, of Artech, Kendra Foster of Ocorian Law and Heather Halsey of Cayman HR were elected as new councillors.
Chamber leadership
Executive Committee
President – Shomari Scott, Health City Cayman Islands
President-Elect – Nelson Dilbert, Cayman Spirits Company
Vice President – Joanne Lawson, Dart Enterprises
Secretary – David Johnston, Corporate Electric
Treasurer – Colin Robinson, Director, Strategic Risk Solutions
Chief Executive Officer – Wil Pineau, CCE
Councillors
Omari Corbin – RBC Royal Bank (Cayman) Limited
Richard Harrison – Greentech Solar Limited
Marc Langevin – The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Kendra Foster – Ocorian Law
Steve Bramwell – Artech
Heather Halsey, Cayman HR
Immediate Past President
Mike Gibbs, Kensington Management Group
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