Butch Stewart takes Charge at JAMPRO

Businessman, the Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, has been named the new head of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO).
The announcement was made Tuesday (April 27) by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, at a press briefing at JAMPRO, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston.
The Minister also named several well known businesspersons as members of JAMPRO’s new Board of Directors. These include: Mr. Raymond Miles, Mr. Rodney Davis, Mr. Dave Lyn, Mr. Paul Lalor, Mr. Cleve Stewart, Mr. Mark Myers, Mr. Phillip Gore, Ms. Thalia Lyn, Mr. Stewart Stephenson, Mr. Christopher Zacca, Mr. Gassan Azan, Mr. David Douglas, Ms. Karene Gilbert-Singh and Ms. Sancia Templer, who will remain as President of the agency.
Mr. Samuda said that he was confident of his selections, and believed the new board will do a tremendous job in facilitating and promoting Jamaica’s development in trade, industry and investments.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, outlining the responsibilities of the Board of Director of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation’s (JAMPRO) at a press conference at the organisation’s head office in New Kingston Tuesday (April 27).

“For years, many asked and tried to get the Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart involved at this level, everyone failed, I have succeeded,” he said.
“That success, I think, has come simply because, at this crucial time in the history of our country, he recognises that now is the time to step in and to do his best to help us along the way towards success,” the Minister stated.
Mr. Samuda also reiterated the focus of the corporation, which included manufacturing for export, agro-business, driving foreign investment and the development of local investment which, he said, will be the priorities of the new board.
“We recognise that if we do not lead by example no one is going to take us seriously,” he added. The Minister also urged local investors to reflect the kind of confidence that international investors are looking for.

New Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart (left), Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda (centre) and JAMPRO Board member, Thalia Lyn (right) enter the board room of the agency for their first meeting. The Minister announced the new Board on Tuesday (April 27).

“That’s what JAMPRO is about, that’s the new spirit of JAMPRO that’s going to be led by Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and the team around him,” he said.
Mr. Samuda also warned that, while he is confident, all of the efforts will go in vain, “if we don’t take as a priority to take hold of this dragon called bureaucracy and remove it.”
He said the corporation is looked upon as the premier agency in his Ministry, and will be at the forefront of the fight to remove bureaucracy in all its forms from the sector.
“It is this Ministry and this agency’s responsibility to ensure that those road blocks are removed and removed expeditiously,” Mr. Samuda concluded.
In his response, Mr. Stewart expressed gratitude to the Minister for the privilege to lead JAMPRO, and assured that he would work “as hard as I possibly can” to drive policy and remove bureaucracy.