MONTEGO BAY, St James — Financial advisor Oral Heaven has been re-elected to a third term at the helm of Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI). He ran unopposed.

“I find it very humbling, to say the least, that I have been elected for a third time unopposed. That, for me, is big and I have to put in the work,” Heaven told the Jamaica Observer.

“This is no accident, really… It’s the confidence and trust that the people of Montego Bay, that the business community, have in me and the team that I am leading,” he continued.

Yangsen Li, founder of LCH Developments — the company behind The Pinnacle — was returned as first vice-president, however there were some changes to the organisation’s leadership.

Tourism player Nadine Spence is now the second vice-president, taking over from Sonia Clarke Bowen; and attorney Paulette Neil is the third vice-president, taking over from Karlene Maye.

There are also some changes to the directors with Pier One General Manager Jason Russell among the new faces.

Heaven pointed to the strong turnout of members for the vote.

“We have the largest paid-up membership in the history of the chamber — 132 — and most of the persons turned out,” he said.

“We had 84 ballots and therefore it was a good look to see that Montego Bay is coming together, Montego Bay is working together, everybody is working together for a better Montego Bay. As the president I will continue to lead in that way,” he stated.

He expressed pleasure at the increasing participation of Chinese members of the city’s business community.

“It was so good to see the number of Chinese turning out and who are members. It felt so good to see them walk up to the table, sign, and collect their ballots to vote — which signifies that they are paid-up members,” he said.

Heaven said he and the team will continue working to get a number of issues addressed within the parish. The ongoing rehabilitation of Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) will continue to be a major focus.

“We have a committee that speaks to Cornwall Regional Hospital, and it is important that this is completed for the benefit of the people who utilise those services,” he said.

He added that there will be increased focus on other critical areas of development taking place in the western city and its environs, including on-road projects such as the proposed Long Hill bypass.

“What I’m getting to understand from a past president is that the Anchovy bypass road will be a toll road, but that’s a necessary road,” Heaven noted.

The Long Hill bypass is the second component of the Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project and, according to the developers National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC), thought is being given to tolling that segment of road, but this has not been confirmed as yet.

Heaven vowed that the chamber will advocate that the road, when completed, remains free of charge for travel.

“For a regular-use road to be a toll road they would have to do more research on that. The chamber definitely will take that one up because we can’t pay toll on a regular-use road,” he asserted.

The chamber president also spoke of another major area of focus planned for this term: property ownership.

“We will be looking at one major thing, as a matter of fact we just formed the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Property Acquisition Committee,” he told the Observer.

“They only have eight months in which we expect to have that committee identify property so that we can now become landlords instead of tenants. It will be looking at property where we can host meetings and even to rent to persons who want a space to keep meetings in and around Montego Bay,” he added.