Mandeville, Manchester – Banker Winston Lawson is the new president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Lawson, the branch manager of the National Commercial Bank in Mandeville and immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Mandeville, has replaced businessman Richard Longmore, who resigned as president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.

Lawson, who was elected unopposed late last month, says he is intent on helping “to accelerate the process of returning the Chamber to its state of relevance and influence and to play its vital role in being the voice and servant of the business community” in Manchester.

Emphasising that a key element of his presidency will be an exploration of ways to fight poverty and crime, Lawson told members of the chamber at his first regular meeting as president earlier this month that he was convinced of the necessity to encourage entrepreneurship among young people as a vehicle for “economic upliftment”.

As one of his first acts as president, Lawson recently handed over $50,000 on behalf of the Chamber to mayor of Mandeville Desmond Harrison to fund the erection of signs along Caledonia Road in Mandeville.

“Traffic congestion in the parish was one of several concerns of the Chamber and we are certainly very pleased to be able to fund this initiative,” said Lawson.

The newly elected 11-member Manchester Chamber of Commerce board comprises:

Winston Lawson, president

Danny Roumel, first vice president

Calvin Lyn, second vice president

Hilret Hanson, treasurer

Wendy Freckleton, secretary

Jean Anderson, division head, communication and public affairs

Karen Wong, division head, membership

Valerie Dixon, division head, workforce development

Robert Cunningham, division head, entrepreneurism and business advocacy

Keith Smith, division head, government relations and economic development

Beverley Henry, division head, projects and events