Pauline Reid

Incumbent President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pauline Reid, was re-elected to that post to serve for a second year at the chamber’s annual general meeting (AGM) last week. No other member contested the presidency post. Ms. Reid received a unanimous approval from a full house AGM for her to serve for a second term.

She is the first and only female to serve the chamber as a president in its 75-year history. “One year was not enough for me to have accomplished some of the chamber’s objectives and goals, so I thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to concretise some of the projects that I have started,” responded Ms. Reid.

Business Incubator

She said for 2007/2008, the chamber would be focusing on businesses and hoped to get its own building, which would incorporate a business incubator. This, she said, would house a skills training centre to cater to inner-city youths.

“A lot of them are school dropouts and are unemployable, but I feel strongly that if we can train them in the various skill areas they can create a life for themselves. I think that crime is a socio- economic problem to a large extent, and unless we can deal with some of the social problems we will not be able to eradicate crime,” she said.

Reid said discussions and negotiations were already under way to establish the business incubator. Speaking about a business centre already established at the chamber offices, Reid said they would be focusing heavily on expanding it. The business centre at present offers services aimed at enhancing and supporting small and medium businesses.