http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Commerce-groups-calling-on-Kamla-for-quick-action_7654807Commerce groups calling on Kamla for quick action
BY ARETHA WELCH
Friday, May 28, 2010
BUSINESS leaders across Trinidad & Tobago earlier this week congratulated and expressed support to the new People's Partnership government.
They also called on Prime Minister-elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar to address immediate problems.
Downtown Owners and Merchants Association president Gregory Aboud said: "Trinidad and Tobago obviously faces several serious problems, which we have been discussing for several years and we obviously would like the pressing and basic needs of our citizens given top priority. We are extremely encouraged by the observations made of the poll which indicate that there has been voting across traditional lines of class, race, and ethnicity."
In a release this week, the Employers' Consultative Association said: "It is our view that now is the time to prove that the people's choice was well placed and that promises will give way to prudent implementation, for the benefit of all the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago."
The American Chamber of Commerce called for new strides to be made and methodologies to be applied in "effectively dealing with crime and curtailing the lawlessness that has pervaded our society".
In a statement, AmCham said crime had affected business activity and the quality of life in the country.
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce affirmed its commitment to work with the new government and congratulated citizens for turning out at the polls.
The chamber said: "The voter turn-out, as reported by the media, was also quite impressive at 70 per cent, much higher than seen in recent elections."
The Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce congratulated Persad-Bissessar for creating history on her election as the first woman prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
"We are pleased to note that, once again, the electorate in Trinidad and Tobago has shown maturity at the polls, and that, despite political differences and the keenly contested election, voting went smoothly with the exception of a few hiccups, and was in the main, a peaceful process," the chamber said in a statement.
Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association president Greig Laughlin said that even as manufacturers were happy to work with the new government, they also wanted the new administration to focus on addressing national issues like crime.