The Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry initiated a forum at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Wednesday evening, this week, on a number of matters of interest and concern to businesses and the people of the island in general.
The event, which could not be covered in this issue of The Anguillian due to press time, was outlined at a press conference on Tuesday by President of the Chamber,KeithleyLake.
“The Anguilla Chamber of Commerce [and Industry] every year has a major forum by which we try to educate our membership, and the general public, as to public policy issues that should concern them,” Mr. Lake stated. “It is also provides an opportunity to question the persons who are responsible either for formulating or administering the policy.
“This year, we are going to be focused on security and crime. We expect to have the Commissioner of Police [Mr.Rudolph Proctor]. There are a lot of changes in the area of Customs Duties and Tariffs and Mr.Kenrick Richardson, the Comptroller of Customs, will be at the forum; and there will be a representative from the Inland Revenue Department to address issues including Government taxes, levies and new development initiatives undertaken by Government.”
Mr. Lake recalled that the Chamber had been very busy over the last couple of weeks in discussions on crime with the Governor and the Chief Minister as well as with a radio programme. “There is no greater impact on economic activity than crime,” he went on. “We are a tourist destination and obviously tourists don’t want to go to countries that have either a security problem or a perceived security problem. The Chamber has also submitted a list of recommendations to the Governor that should be implemented to aid with the prevention of crime or the apprehension of criminals.”
Mr. Lake stressed that the forum was organised so that policy administrator could provide first-hand information to the membership of the Chamber and the general public. He added that the aim was to inform them about what was being done in the various areas outlined above and how it would affect them.
He was accompanied at the press conference by the Chamber’s Acting Executive Officer, Carlton Pickering, whom he said would play a leading role in the delivery of the forum.
