Chaguanas chamber president promises covid19 recovery help for businesses

Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIC) president Richie Sookhai has promised a revitalisation of businesses in the borough which have suffered losses because of the covid19 pandemic.

Sookhai gave the assurance in a speech after he was elected president for the next three years at the chamber’s annual general meeting on March 31, along with a new board. He served in the same capacity between 2013 to 2016. The outgoing president is Vishnu Charran.

“The president along with this newly elected board will certainly seek to revitalise the chamber and bring much-needed change to Chaguanas at a crucial time when many businesses are facing the brunt of the economic downturn due to the covid19 pandemic,” said Sookhai, an engineer and Chaguanas businessman.

Some of the areas to be tackled included the implementation of new strategies to assist burgesses, focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial development as well as technological advancements through the promotion of digital media marketing.

Among the plans for SMEs would be regulation and compliance to allow for funding and grants provided by banks and government. The chamber is also seeking to establish a financial institution to assist its SMEs in accessing low-cost financing.

Sookhai noted that the CCIC also intended to address problems such as crime, economic activity, foreign exchange, gender-based violence, traffic, education and infrastructural development in the borough.

The newly elected CCIC board includes vice president Baldath Maharaj, secretary Dr Vaalmikki Arjoon, treasurer Karena Sukhu, public relations officer Kyron Regis, and assistant secretaries Daniel Austin, Kevin Ramgoolie, Sunil Moonasar and Sajjad Hamid.