Some members of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce say it is no longer conducive to do business in the parish given the increased competition from their Chinese counterparts who are said to be selling their products at a way cheaper rate than that they can compete.

According to stakeholders, who raised concerns at a recent meeting of the chamber, these lower prices as well as high taxes and red tape facing their businesses are threatening to drive them out the market.

The stakeholders were also concerned that the Chinese were not involved in community activities.

“How do we get them to be involved in the social fabric of our society?” one stakeholder wanted to know.

Seeking to address the concerns that Chinese businesses were getting more support than local businesses, stakeholder Vana Taylor called for the support of local businesses.

“We need to change our culture; it is important that we work together,” said Taylor who was moderating the question and answer segment of the meeting.

“We step up on each other; the Chinese support each other,” said Anthony Charley, chairman of the St Ann Parish Development Committee.

While many raised concerns about foreign nationals doing business in the town, Raymon Treasure pointed out that these persons also provide employment and are also investing in the country’s economy. He further laments that many local businesses do not provide the level of service needed.

Treasure, who is also the principal of York Castle High School, said while persons want to be patriotic to Jamaican businesses, many times they are not stepping up to the plate.

“Our Jamaican companies need to respond, if they don’t they will lose business,” he said. Treasure said he had requested price quotations from Jamaican companies for items for his school and they did not respond, however a it was a Colombian company which came to their aid.

Several business owners also lamented that many of the foreigners doing business in Jamaica receive tax exemptions and are therefore better able to thrive than local businesses.

Meanwhile, as the Brown’s Town police embark on a campaign to rid the streets of illegal taxis and vendors, stakeholders have voiced their concerns about the many problems plaguing the town.

Charley pointed to consistent illegal vending on the streets in spite of the number of vacant stalls in the Brown’s Town market.

“It is unfair that I am a legal vendor selling in the market and others selling on the road,” said Charley.

He noted that of the 277 stalls in the market, the Parish Council was only earning revenue from 151 and there was more than enough space to accomodate vendors.

He lamented the fact that the majority of the vendors on the streets were from outside the parish while local vendors suffer inside the market.

Charley also pointed out that a number of wanted criminals have been captured in the Brown’s Town area, suggesting that some of those plying their wears on the streets were among those involved in illegal activities.

He also pointed to the recent criminal activities in the town where one businessman was murdered and several brazen daylight robberies and rapes have occured.

“Brown’s Town was a place where we never had murders,” he said.

He noted that it was not just the much-feared Zika virus which is a threat to the town, but criminals.

One woman who attended the meeting said there needs to be more businesses and factories in the area to keep youngsters occupied so they will not indulge in criminal activities.

She pointed out that elderly persons leaving banks were becoming a target for criminals, who often pretend to be assisting them.

Stakeholders also raised concerns about their struggling businesses.

Over the years, the majority of the businesses in the St Ann Chamber of Commerce have been from Ocho Rios; however, the Chamber is seeking to change that and is now embarking on hosting its monthly meetings at major towns across the parish.

Meanwhile, President of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce Pixley Irons called on the businesses in Brown’s Town to become a part of the entity. He explained that over the years, the Chamber’s membership consisted of mainly Ocho Rios-based businesses but reminded them that “it was the St Ann Chamber of Commerce and not the Ocho Rios Chamber of Commerce”.

In a bid to expand its membership and to ensure all members feel included, the Chamber will be hosting meetings across major towns in the parish.