MCOC Gallery
MCOC President, Winston Lawson at MOEYCS Youth Empowerment Symposium on Aug 15, 2008
Mr Chairman, Ladies and gentlemen all good morning.
I am very happy to see yet another useful initiative being implemented for the benefit of the people of Manchester . This is particularly more pleasing as it places some amount of focus on our youth and youth development. It is this very segment ladies and gentlemen that represents the future of our dear country and certainly the Manchester Chamber of Commerce will always support initiatives aimed at a segment that we recognize as the future workforce and future entrepreneurs of Jamaica.
I am happy therefore to congratulate the Ministry of Information Youth Culture and Sports and in particular the Manchester Youth Empowerment Officers Charlene McLaughlin and Keitho Nembhard for taking this Symposium to the communities in Manchester . And as a Past President of the Rotary Club of Mandeville I am even more proud, but not surprised, to know that our Past Rotaractor President Keitho is very involved in this important initiative. Well done Keitho.
It is good that our organizations as well continue to show their support and the Chamber congratulates them also. We recognize our membership and several other organizations who are present, I see a very good Bank out there, but I am happy to recognise them all as they are here and are in full support of this initiative.
Ladies and gentlemen earlier to I spoke about the Chamber recognizing the Youth as our future workforce and future entrepreneurs. There is however another very important recognition that I want to highlight. And that happens to be the role that we, we who are more aware of the tools required and the tools available to assist with the progress of another, the progress of our fellow Jamaicans, we should do more in empowering them and assisting them to make better for themselves and their families and empowering them to be able to contribute more to the society. Let me be clear, I am not taking about hand outs, I am talking about empowerment, I am talking about for example, “Teaching a man to fish rather than giving him the fish”.
Let us not fool ourselves either. He needs the fish… but unfortunately there are times he will seek to acquire the fish whether or not it is within the ambit of the law due to frustration, lack of education, and sometimes greed. Any circumstances to acquire outside of the ambit of the law must however always be condemned.
That aside, I will simply reiterate that more and more of us must continue to do what we can to empower our youth and the people in our communities. It is in their interest, it is in our interest and it is in our country’s interest.
I will not go into the variety of initiatives for which the Chamber is actively pursuing in its role to empower various segments in Manchester , suffice it to say, we are very pleased to see this Symposium for the Youth in Manchester in action.
Ladies and gentlemen all, accept warmest greetings from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and our every good wish for a very successful initiative.
Thank you.
Communication & Public Affairs
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Workforce Development
The Division connects businesses to local and national workforce systems and to institutions delivering training for those systems in order to better align current and future training with the needs of the workplace. It is responsible for the drive to see a highly skilled, well educated workforce prepared for challenges
Entrepreneurism & Business Advocacy
This Division leads the drive to enhance and nurture the innovative entrepreneurial environment and ensure that both the tools and the necessary economic climate are available to assist enterprises to grow, create jobs. This Division will have responsibility for the slate of industries/sectors represented in the community vis a vis mining, tourism, agriculture, construction, services, etc, which are referred to as Units. Assigned Unit heads will report directly to the Division head.
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The Division ensures adequacy of funding for the Chamber's administration as well as its projects, through fundraising, membership dues and other sources of income. It prepares the annual budget in line with the objectives set each year and monitors actual income and expenditure. The Division will see to the preparation of the financial statements of the Chamber and for the necessary audit to be done on an annual basis. Monthly management accounts are to be reported to the Board of Directors and members meetings.
Government Relations & Economic Development
This Division is charged with lobbying efforts and representation at local and national level in ensuring the needs of members are met and that the drive leads to economic development within the Parish. Air transportation, Highway Development, Water Supplies are some major issues of the Division however will be reviewed annually or more frequently if necessary.
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