New President wants to promote Chamber’s value

Having worked alongside the Government to ensure the delivery of communications, training and advice during the pandemic, the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce will seek to enhance its standing among the general public under the stewardship of its new President Mike Gibbs. At the organisation’s AGM held last week at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, Mr Gibbs said that while the Chamber delivered excellent programmes and services and was a strong advocate on issues impacting its members, it often amazed him that some people were still unfamiliar with the good work that they did and the value that they provided to members and, by extension, the community. Some people even thought the Chamber was part of Government, he said.

The Chamber’s Training Centre, Mentoring programme, Leadership Cayman, Careers Expo and island wide clean-up were just some of the ongoing programmes integral to the Chamber’s work.

“The business community needs to know that the Chamber stands by them and provides important services and benefits that can help them to save money, improve productivity and promote their products and services,” he confirmed.

The economy was also a clear focus for the Chamber this year and Mr Gibbs said that the Chamber’s attention in the months ahead would focus on working with industry associations and Government in reopening and restoring the economy.

“We need to work together openly and effectively on a plan to reopen,” he stated. “The private sector is ready and willing to assist with achieving a successful and safe reopening, but this can only be achieved with regular dialogue and trust. We are all on the same team and we must work together to obtain the resources we require to ensure a smooth and safe reopening.”

The Chamber’s annual Economic Forum would play an even more relevant and timely role as it encouraged open and frank discussions on how best to restore all aspects of the economy, he said.

Mr Gibbs said that the Chamber would also be hosting an Education Summit this year that would gather business leaders and educators to assess the state of education.

“This will provide a platform for business leaders to share their real-life experiences and to identify the skills that they require from students who are transitioning into the world of work,” he outlined.

He went on to say the country had to address skills and learning gaps so that all Caymanians who were motivated to progress in the workplace, or were interested in becoming entrepreneurs, were given the support and encouragement that they needed to fill jobs.

“This must become a national priority,” he stated.