The American Chamber of Commerce for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (AmCham BEC) recently hosted a cocktail reception to celebrate the achievements of the Chamber to date and to recognize the contribution of its outgoing Executive Director, Mrs. Sasha Sheehy.

AmCham BEC is a non-profit organization aimed at facilitating business relations between Member Jurisdictions and the United States of America, working closely with governments and the private sector. Having recently celebrated its 5th anniversary, AmCham BEC is the youngest member of the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA), which represent over 20,000 U.S. and local companies and over 80% of all investment in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mr. Dustin Delany, Chairman and President of AmCham BEC, took the opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of AmCham BEC under Mrs. Sheehy’s leadership and some of the key achievements of the Chamber over the past three (3) years.

“One of the main objectives of AmCham BEC is to facilitate a growing network that can stimulate mutually beneficial domestic and foreign trade and investment opportunities in the Americas and across the region. This is achieved through the network’s ties and influence on policies, legislation and frameworks. During her tenure as Executive Director of AmCham BEC, Sasha played a pivotal role in formulating the strategic framework of the AmCham BEC while at the same time running the day to day operations, doubling our membership and strengthening our ties with our partners both regionally, and here in Barbados.”

He lauded Mrs. Sheehy’s role in the commissioning of the Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee and the Travel and Tourism Committee which Mr. Delany explained facilitated interaction between local and US authorities to propose the establishment of the Pre-Clearance programme at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

In her parting words, Mrs. Sheehy expressed optimism in future regional development. “As our region faces an uncertain economic future, it is now even more important to bring like minded businesses together and speak with one voice. I believe AmCham BEC is ideally positioned to play an integral role in the future development of the region and I look forward to seeing continued growth in the years ahead. We have a lot of work to do but I am confident that our incoming Executive Director will continue to grow AmCham BEC both locally and across the Eastern Caribbean.”

With Sheehy’s departure from the organization to return to Ireland, Mrs. Shelly Ann Hee Chung has been appointed the new Executive Director of the AmCham BEC effective July 14, 2017. Over the next few years, the AmCham BEC will focus on growing relations within the OECS and the developing coalition of the AmChams of the Caribbean Community which include Haiti in addition to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.