MONTEGO BAY, St James – Oral Heaven, a financial consultant at Sagicor, is tipped to take over the presidency of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) after current President Janet Silvera demits office during the advocacy group’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, May 18.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer West during Tuesday evening’s MBCCI President’s Membership Mingle and Bon Voyage at the S Hotel in Montego Bay, Heaven, who is first vice-president of the chamber, said if successful, he will be using the template laid down by his immediate predecessor, with a little tweaking where necessary.

“We coming from a president who holds Montego Bay dearly to her heart and all that she did was for Montego Bay. So I have to continue working with that, but, of course, as we go along there are things that we must look at and see how we can accomplish what we need to accomplish…,” Heaven said.

“But the idea is when I finish my first 12 months, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Montego Bay will be better off having me as president.”

Among the highlights listed under Silvera’s tenure is the recent successful staging of the crime summit, which was chaired by Heaven.

Heaven expressed his intent, not only to perpetuate the crime summit, but to introduce other initiatives to address the worrying crime situation in Montego Bay.

He revealed a move afoot to partner with new MBCCI member Downsound, promoters of Reggae Sumfest, to arrange with entertainers to speak with unattached youths during the week of the staging of the reggae festival in July in the resort city.

“One of the things we are looking to do is to partner with them (Downsound) for a day with unattached youths and even unattached parents, from the 18th of July when Sumfest week starts. So we are working with Sumfest to see how best we can partner with entertainers who are role models to come in and talk with these youths and different agencies, “he stated.

“Crime is a major problem of our city, we have to try and fix that and fix the causes of crime and we will continue on that leg work with the business community and see how best we can curtail this monster called crime.”

Gloria Henry, who was among the MBCCI’s past presidents at Tuesday evening’s event, called for the perpetuation of the crime summit.

“That crime summit was a great idea for Montego Bay and something we should continue as a legacy, not just because of the people that it brings together, but the opportunities that it creates. We should really perpetuate the legacy that the president laid upon us to continue to make crime a central discussion, not just at the chamber, but at our businesses and our personal lives because it is only when we tackle it with that head on force, we going to have the impact that we need to have,” Henry contended.

Meanwhile, Silvera, like several directors, past presidents and members of the chamber, have thrown her full support behind Heaven.

She noted that there are no other aspirants at this time.

“For the last year I have been training. I have been ensuring that there was succession planning because I believe that any sensible leader ensures that they have someone in place when they demit office. So I feel confident that I am leaving a chamber that I have worked so hard to build. I have known Oral Heaven to be a builder himself that he will continue this construction,” Silvera told the Observer West.

“I have not heard of any other and would not be worried either. Oral is a high achiever. I see no other person at this time more qualified. I see where many of our directors have endorsed him.”

But the toast of Tuesday evening was the outgoing president who, speaker after speaker, gave accolades for lifting the profile of the MBCCI.

“President extraordinaire. Fabulous, fabulous Janet Silvera. You are not only going to be remembered because you are fabulous but because of the great things you have done,” Henry remarked.

Another past president of the chamber, Godfrey Dyer, argued that he is proud of Silvera’s achievements.

“Three years ago I took a chance and voted for Janet. I said let me try it, let me see how it goes. And nothing is more satisfying than having voted for her. She has made not just me, but Montego Bay and Jamaica, and the world proud. And I want to tell her she did well. Three years of hard labour! She performed and Janet we are proud of you,” Dyer stressed.

Silvera’s immediate predecessor Winston Lawson also gave Silvera high marks.

“I don’t know if President Janet remembered when I handed over the baton and I can tell you and tell her that when I did it I could have closed my eyes and knew for sure that she would have taken the chamber to greater heights as she has done with the team. Congratulations president,” Lawson remarked.

Among the accomplishments of the chamber under her leadership are the relocation of the chamber office from Overton Plaza into a business district, lobbying for the Montego Bay bypass road to become an emergency project, advocacy for a place and a voice of the MBCCI on the oversight committee of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, the recruitment of Downsound as member of the chamber and recognition of frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Silvera, a journalist, was selected to serve as acting president in June 2019 following the sudden resignation of then president Winston Lawson. At that time, Silvera had been first vice-president of the chamber. She was returned unopposed as president during the group’s AGM July 2021.