Another year has come to an end and I am grateful for the opportunity to have served you to the best of my ability. On behalf of the board of Directors I thank you all for your support over the year as we could not have achieved our goals otherwise.

The 2015-2016 Administrative year for the Manchester Chamber of Commerce saw significant confidence returning to the business community as we experienced international and local businesses opening their doors in the parish. As a chamber we took the opportunity to welcome Sutherland Global Services, Island Grill and a number of restaurants and smaller businesses who saw it fit to invest in our parish. These businesses have created numerous opportunities for the parish and we must do our best to protect and support these investments. Paramount among these opportunities are the additional jobs that have been created for our young people leaving universities, who no longer will have to go outside of the parish to seek meaningful employment and the spinoff businesses that have been created from the increased investments in the parish.

Another key indicator that businesses in the parish are doing well is the positive feedback we received from our members at our meetings. All sectors of the business community advised of the significant improvement in their businesses over the past twelve months especially during the Christmas season.

I must commend the Manchester Police who have done an outstanding job of controlling crime and violence in the parish. Your work has not gone unnoticed and the chamber will continue to support you through initiatives like the Motor Vehicle Repair and Maintenance Fund which we started last year and have raised in excess of $400,000 from the business community. We were able to repair vehicles and outfit some motor cars with tires to assist you in doing your job. We therefore make a commitment to continue this partnership as we all benefit from an efficient security force.

All of the projects that we undertook over the year have been a success due primarily the hard work and commitment of the Board of Directors and Members of the Chamber. Again I thank you all for your support and dedication in achieving our goals.

As we embrace growth in the parish of Manchester, the Chamber will continue to support its residents as we are determined to ensure that this Parish does not veer from the successes it has had. We are truly grateful for the support garnered over the years and we are committed to making the parish of Manchester the ideal place to live, work, raise families and do business.

Loven Henry McCook

President