President Mike Gibbs outlines the Chamber’s advocacy agenda
The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon was a sold-out event on Thursday, 8 July, with hundreds joining virtually via live stream.
The event allowed attendees the opportunity to lunch with Members of Parliament and Government representatives to discuss pertinent issues in their respective sectors.
Speakers included Jackie Doak, President of Business Development at Dart, The Hon. Wayne Panton, JP, MP, Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency and Mike Gibbs, President of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce.
Jackie Doak made the case for a national Environmental Management Framework to support the goal of sustainable development in the
Cayman Islands.
The Hon. Wayne Panton, JP, MP delivered the keynote address and outlined the Government’s 5 phase reopening plans and what a “working partnership” between government and the business community will look like, following the pandemic.
Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce President, Mike Gibbs outlined the main areas of focus of the Chamber’s current advocacy agenda. He stated that the Chamber’s Executive Committee recently met with the heads of the various industry associations, to discuss how the pandemic has reshaped the country’s political and economic agenda.
“Among the top issues raised were the access to and cost of attracting qualified labour, escalating prices and access to affordable construction materials, reopening our borders, increased investment in and promotion of the financial services sector, overall strategy for the promotion of the jurisdiction, education reform, sustainable development, escalating land and housing prices, availability of affordable rental properties and pension and health insurance reform”, he said.
President Gibbs stated that the Chamber’s Executive Committee had recently met with local pension plan administrators to discuss pension system reform. “We need to revise the National Pensions Law and Regulations, as well as the investment guidelines, so the pension system can be reshaped to achieve its intended purpose of providing meaningful retirement income when it’s most needed”, he said.
President Gibbs extended gratitude to healthcare professionals and the past and present elected Governments for the actions taken to keep the Islands safe throughout the pandemic.
In closing, he thanked the event’s VIP Partner, DART and table sponsors for contributing to its success. He also thanked the Premier, elected officials and senior government representatives who had taken the time to attend and interact with Cayman’s business community.
Full event coverage is still available on the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce YouTube channel.
Pictures: Ericia Burke (Burke’s Media) and Alvaro Serey (Cayman Compass)
Read full transcript here: https://issuu.com/caymanchamber/docs/2021_legislative_luncheon_-_president_michael_gibb