Congresswoman Yvette Clarke for MBCCI Banquet

UNITED STATES Congress-woman Yvette Clarke, who has Jamaican roots, will be the keynote speaker at tonight's (Saturday) Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (MBCCI) Annual Banquet at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in the western city.

Clarke, who serves New York's Ninth District (Brooklyn), accompanied United States President Barack Obama on his historic visit to Jamaica earlier this year. She is the daughter of former New York City Council member, Jamaica-born Dr Una Clarke.

Talks with stakeholders

The Congresswoman, who sits on the US Energy and Commerce Committee and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, will also have discussions on energy, manufacturing, tourism, and cybercrimes, with various local stakeholders during her visit.

Gloria Henry, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has expressed much gratitude that Clarke, who she described as a 'daughter of Jamaica', had accepted the MBCCI's invitation to speak at the banquet.

According to Henry, Clarke has demonstrated "successful transformational leadership" over her nine years of political representation in the New York City Council and now in the US Congress.

The five business leaders who will be recognised are hotel magnate Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, businessman extraordinaire Anthony 'Tony' Hart, transport mogul Ralph Smith, pioneer inbound merchant B.D. Dadlani, and real estate developer Joe Whitter.