Mark Myers, (left), has replaced Noel daCosta (right) as president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, following elections at its annual general meeting, Thursday, at the JCC's offices, Ocean Boulevard, downtown Kingston. - File

Mark Myers, the man behind the successful KFC franchise in Jam-aica, has been elected president of the Jamaica Chamber of Com-merce, a position he accepted with a pledge to build strong relationships between businesses, sectors and communities.

Myers has declared that his administration intends to collaborate with other private sector agencies islandwide to create an operating environment in which businesses can prosper and for that prosperity to flow to communities, said a release on the elections held yesterday at the JCC's downtown Kingston offices.

He replaces Noel daCosta as president.

Declaring that commerce was today's great motivating force controlling the actions, energies and ambitions of the world, the businessman, who ascended to the JCC presidency from vice-president, said the trade association which speaks largely for retailers, had a pivotal watchdog role.

"Some people might say that it is only enlightened self interest that drives the JCC to continue to pay attention to the promotion of good business, good government and good citizenship," he said.

But, he added, business operators give continued support to people living in depressed communities in which they operate.

Elected alongside Myers were Ed Khoury, first VP; Francis 'Paco' Kennedy, second VP; Melton Samuda, third VP and Millicent Lynch, fourth VP, while the new directors are David Hall, Anthony Gomes, Tony Rae, Bernard Williams, Sharon Ho-Sang and Faye Jacobs.