Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

LAWSON

Mandeville, Manchester:

Winston Lawson, president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, is pledging the organisation's commitment to using entrepreneurship to help in the fight against crime in the parish. He contends that crime is never an acceptable option for those who are in need.

Mr. Lawson was speaking yesterday at an entrepreneurial conference, staged at the Golf View Hotel, in Mandeville, in collaboration with the HEART Trust/National Training Agency.

The aim of the conference, he said, was to "raise the consciousness of our citizens to see that there is an alternative to crime" .

Robert Gregory, executive director of Heart, who addressed the more than 500 participants, said education was the best means to success, as a trained and certified workforce entices investments. "A quality and well- educated workforce with skills and know-how and expertise is the primary magnet to attract good investments," he said.

The theme of entrepreneurship was picked up by Wayne Chen, CEO of Super Plus Food Stores. He stressed the importance of finding opportunities even in crisis.

Persons found opportunities

Pointing to the late 1970s and early 1980s, when there was a shortage of certain goods, he recalled that many persons found opportunities in the manufacturing of local products. In that regard, Mr. Chen said several small manufacturers of plastic bags, bagged juices and other products started during that period and evolved into major companies.

Likewise, he said, the much-admired informal commercial importers did very well by capitalising on the needs of the marketplace.

"The world is now our marketplace, although with more competitors, and we should be looking to see how we can penetrate that market by looking for the opportunities," he stressed.