New Chamber head to implement plans to turn finances around

Plans are in the pipeline to revamp the St Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s (SVGCIC) earning capabilities, while increasing the organization’s reach and membership.

Last Thursday, newly elected president of the SVGCIC Wayne Hull said that he is hoping to implement a number of emergency action initiatives to turn the Chamber around, especially in terms of its financial performance.{{more}}

Hull, who is also the country manager at LIME, was elected president of the SVGCIC last Thursday, January 21, during the organization’s 87th Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held at Frenches House, Kingstown.

Hull, who replaced Christine DaSilva (she did not offer herself for re-election), said that he is also hoping to drive membership growth, while making sure members become more active and engaged in the Chamber, as part of his emergency initiative to build the financial standing and strength of the organization.

Hull said that he is also hoping to improve the consultation and level of support services that the Chamber offers the business community, while taking a look at the SVGCIC’s presence on electronic and social media.

“We intend to make sure that the Chamber becomes a source to provide statistical information on the business operations or the economic performance of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Hull,

noting that one of the major things is to have the Chamber lead the charge in reinventing capital city Kingstown, by giving it a facelift.

“We are hoping that we can be the leader for implementing zonal areas for commercial activities and sort of identifying spots or specific areas which need rehabilitation,” stressed Hull.

He added that he would like to see the Chamber become more engaged with the public sector and Government in terms of being an advocate for changes and implementing new initiatives to attract investment and look at the cost of doing business here.

Hull stressed that he would also like to see the Chamber moving towards doing monthly bulletins on economic performance and business performance, so that business sector organizations and companies can understand how things are happening within the economy.

The new executive also includes senior vice-president Phillippa Greaves (Export Promotions and Marketing manager St Vincent Distillers) and vice-president Finance and Administration Vanessa DeSouza (general manager Massy Stores).

The council members are Garcia Cato (head of Corporate Sales – LIME), Dennis Gaymes (proprietor of Gaymes Bookstore), Kimya Glasgow (proprietor of Kimya Glasgow Designs), Rachel Haslam (Marketing manager – ECGC), Elka Phillips Roberts (Human Resource manager – Coreas Hazells Inc), Cerlian Russell (senior manager of Business and Operations BOSVG), Garth Saunders (engineering consultant and general manager CWSA), Roxann Williams (barrister-at-law and director of Access Real Estate (SVG) Inc) and Andrew Woodroofe (proprietor of Pasta Enterprises).

The executive director is Anthony Regisford.