Portie Small Biz: May 31 is "Your Day"

 Plans for a day-long “Small Business Day” have been unveiled by Chamber of Commerce President Daney-Ann Thomas for Friday, May 31 at four separate Port Antonio venues. The day will kick off at the Portland Parish Council Chambers at 10 a.m. with a Chamber of Commerce address presented by President Thomas. 

This is followed by a “Meet the Mayor” session and address for small business operators at 10:15 a.m. A question and answer session for taxi drivers, various hospitality providers, hairdressers, barbers and “corner shops” will follow at 10:30 a.m. At 10:45 a.m. there will be a transport authority update covering new rules, dress code and safety measures. At 11:45, the venue moves to the Chamber of Commerce secretariat at 2 Harbour Street. The intention is for the Chamber of Commerce offices to serve as an information centre for all types of information on the parish. The intention is for this office to take up the slack of the Jamaica Tourist Board and TPDCo offices that have closed in Port Antonio.

 At noon, the venue switches to adjacent Neville Antonio Park where lunch will be available and a variety of demonstrations and addresses are slated. At 12:30 p.m. there will be a mixology demonstration sponsored by Lascelles. MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) Alliance Chairman Dr. Rosalea Hamilton will be the guest speaker from 1 p.m. addressing such topics as partnership, networking, alliances and affiliates. From 1:30 p.m., the Heart Trust/National Training Agency
will have various skill displays and outline their certification requirements. At 2:15 p.m.there will be various merchandising booth displays in the park. From 3 p.m. there will be an open air concert on the park stage.

An evening venue will be held at the Hotel Tim Bamboo at 5 p.m. with a forum including both the Jamaica Stock Exchange and Chamber of Commerce focusing on investments. Working refreshments will be included and the session will end at 7 p.m. There is no change to participate in the day‟s event and it also presents an excellent opportunity to meet other enterprising business operators from the community. For additional details, call 873-0882 or 378-6542. 
- from the Portland Tribunal

Portland Can, must "Come From Behind"C

On occasion of Jamaica 50,Milton Samuda – JCC president, used analogy of our world-beating athletes to examine the position of Jamaica socially, economically and politically, and to put a charge before the membership of the Portland Camber of Commerce during their 1st qtrly meeting for 2012, at the Errol Flynn marina.

"We have to develop the ability, like Veronica Campbell, to win whether she's running from behind or in front."

While praising the athletes, Mr Samuda also said they were "distractions" - taking some focus away from the pressing issue of national failure in other aspects. While there are many moments of national pride, taken as a whole, the occasion of 50 years should really make us hang or heads in shame as we have not realized the enormous potential so obvious at our Independence"

In a wide-ranging address, he spoke of the paramount importance of responsibility, and that he was adamant that parish chambers must become stronger, otherwise the national movement is weaker.

PCC president DaneyAnn Thomas

He praised Portland as a  reemerging Chamber and also lauded the leadership - early in the term - of new president DaneyAnne Thomas;  "I urge and plead for you to ensure that movement is fostered"

Economically, Samuda said it would be in Govt's best interest to divest itself of certain services, in order to save critical jobs and drive economy to greater competitiveness. The Penal system and  Places of safety being just 2 examples;

Another striking theme of the address is that with certain decisions now being "made for us instead of by us, Jamaica - including Portland - is now out of time"