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NMBBC AGM Sound Bites – da Costa Calls for Better Metro Leadership

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It was a bit of a teary farewell to the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMMBC) for outgoing President, Alfred da Costa and Vice President, Jane Stevenson at the NMBBC AGM recently. da Costa has come ‘up the ranks’ from CEO of PERCCI to board member and one of the architects of the name change from PERCCI to NMBBC. I wonder if Alfred will mind my referring to him as the PERCCI/NMBBC Soutpiel as he straddles the old PERCCI and new NMBBC?

NMBBC Honorary Treasurer, Greg Billson presented the financials:

  • Services and Events income up by 13% to R3.486 million
  • Expenses up by 1%
  • Employment costs down
  • Nett Profit of R360 519 – a R557 000 turn around on 2009
  • An unqualified audit

In his farewell speech Alfred da Costa touched on:

  • Being worried about the state of our Metro – “It is not in a good state” but qualified that by saying; “I am having a go at all of us. We need good leadership and activism,” and “We need everyone to contribute and not rely solely on local government to lead the way.”
  • The new name, NMBBC, is a genuine reflection of the chambers desire to work in close partnership with the government of Nelson Mandela Bay and to serve the business community across the entire metropolitan area.
  • 146 new NMBBC members in 2010 and 36 new for 2011 so far.
  • “The chamber’s relationship with the Metro is at an all time high.”
  • 75% of the chamber members comprise SME’s.
  • da Costa is especially concerned about the lack of unity, leadership and “strong, robust debate” in the Eastern Cape that hampers any project progress. Using Project Mthombo as an example da Costa noted that the current lack of leadership acumen in the Province and Metro could possibly scupper the project.

Praising the NMBBC board Alfred da Costa closed off by saying; “Last month when I chaired the Exco meeting for the last time, I told them that if every organisation in South Africa had the passion and commitment that ours does, then our country, undoubtedly, would be a better country.

Last President and CEO of PERCCI AND first President and CEO of NMBBC - Alfred da Costa and Kevin Hustler
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.