Francis 'Paco' Kennedy was elected unopposed as the new president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

He succeeds Milton Samuda who urged the chamber to make the Jamaica Employ programme work. The 40,000 jobs programme is a collaborative effort with the Government of Jamaica to provide work for qualified recruits.

Kennedy has served many years on the JCC executive, most recently as first vice-president under Samuda's leadership.

Warren McDonald, Paul Scott and Catherine Kennedy were all elected unopposed as first, second and third vice-president, respectively. Each was on the previous board. Catherine is the daughter of the new president.

One newly elected officer

Oliver Chen, the fourth vice-president, is the only newly elected officer. Wilbert Spence of KPMG was re-elected honorary treasurer.

Samuda served JCC for three terms. The Jamaica Employ agreement signed September 10 was among his last projects.

"I challenge you to make Jamaica Employ work, not as some partisan partnership with the administration of the day, but as a partnership with the government and people of Jamaica," he said in his outgoing speech at the JCC meeting.

marcella.scarlett@gleanerjm.com