Supermarket boss takes helm at Chamber

| 17/01/2020 | 26 Comments
Cayman News Service
Woody Foster at Foster’s Food Fair in Savannah

(CNS): Well known local supermarket owner and managing director, Woody Foster, has taken over the helm of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce following the annual general meeting earlier this month. Foster, who was president elect, takes over from Chris Kirkconnell after his year as the business body’s president. He said that the Chamber’s advocacy was more important than ever as we enter a new decade and face the possibility of Cayman’s population reaching 100,000 people.

“As we enter a new decade, the Chamber’s leadership in advocacy matters is even more critical,” he told members in his acceptance speech. “The panel discussion on population growth at the 2019 Economic Forum generated considerable member and public discussion as we considered Cayman at 100,000 population and its implications on all aspects of our economy. The pressures on all aspects of our society are certainly evident.”

Foster, whose supermarket chain is the Cayman Islands’ second largest private sector employer, said, “It is a fact that the Cayman Islands is no longer the little upstart economy that was hungry for business nearly 60 years ago. Years of rapid growth is forever changing the nature of our society. While we are thankful to those visionary leaders who created the economy we enjoy today, the time has come to evaluate the current situation to ensure that the society that we are developing will be suitable for our children and their children.”

He also stressed the importance of investing in quality education to ensure that students will take up their rightful positions in the public and private sector workplace. Foster has a long held interest in improving education standards and is a founding member of Literacy is for Everyone (LIFE), a non-profit that aims to increase the literacy levels in Cayman.

The new president said the Chamber must help frame the national debate leading up to the next election so that aspiring political leaders understand concerns about education and the growing population and encourage them to share their solutions on the campaign trail.

Foster is also the first ever son of a former Chamber president to take up the post, as his late father, David, was president in 2000.

Meanwhile, Shomari Scott, the director of business development at Health City Cayman Islands, will be supporting Foster as the new vice president. Troy Burke, director of Heritage Holdings; Jenn Cowdroy, director and co-owner of Island Montessori; and Dave Johnston, managing director of Corporate Electric, were elected as new councillors and will serve two-year terms. They will join Tim Bradley, the owner of Professional Yacht Management; Simon Watson, founding partner of Charterland; and Amanda Wilson, director of GreenTech Group, who will serve their second year on the council.

Executive committee members include Foster, Scott, Secretary Steve McIntosh from CML, Treasurer Colin Robinson from Strategic Risk Solutions, and waiting in the wings is President-Elect Mike Gibbs from Kensington Management.


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Category: Business

Comments (26)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Great handover from true Caymanian Kirkconnell to true Caymanian Foster. Congrats to Shomari too.

  2. Anonymous says:

    coc needs to ramp up the pressure on government to reduce the cost of living/doing business.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That would cut into their profits.

      (Not that profits are bad. But don’t ask them to make someone else address a problem that is not in their best interests and expect good results.)

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  3. Anonymous says:

    While I feel that Mr. Foster will do a good job as the president of the CoC it is important to remember that the CoC is essentially a business lobby group that is about lobbying for and on behalf of the business entities that are members of the group. The CoC is not about what is right and fair for the country and the people and it should not be assumed that they will act in the best interest of the people of the Cayman Islands.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Good to see a native Caymanian who is in commerce is appointed as Chairman

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Can he please investigate the Grocery inflation while he is there? It is a lot of pressure on consumers both people and businesses.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It’s a very simple case of supply and demand. Larger population creates higher cost of living, as food and rent/mortgage are the top two expenses for most households.

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      • Anonymous says:

        not if there is collusion between major retailers…?
        how come every bottle of liqour costs the same here in every liqour store
        ?

    • Anonymous says:

      probably the most conflicted person in cayman to do that….
      but welcome to wonderland….

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  6. Anonymous says:

    In the meantime the people suffer from the highest consumer prices in the world.
    I dont understand why this needs to be celebrated.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    I hope Woody will still have the time to visit each of his supermarkets as he has been known to do with his cute swagger and charming smile. Bless you woody!,

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  8. Anonymous says:

    How about this Mr. Woody Foster . . . solutions on the campaign trail. Why doesn’t the Chamber of Commerce push for term limits for all MLA’s?

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Congrats !!!!! Mr Pres. lol …Woody is a great guy and a good business man and loves his Island and people so i know he will do a great job in that post and make us proud !!!!

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Excellent choice – but do not understand why the second largest private sector employer would be concerned about population getting to 100,000. . . more people = more business right?

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Congrats Woody! A good Caymanian man…

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    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t know what world you living in, but those men are all in the graveyards.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I can assure you that there are several exceptions to that statement, with Woody being one of the most exemplary Caymanian men I’ve had the privilege of knowing for many, many years.

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