A new leadership era is set to begin for the private sector in Antigua and Barbuda, after business leader Celia Samuel of Go To Enterprises secured election as president of the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce for the 2026–2027 term. Samuel will take the helm of a fully refreshed board of directors, which will steer the chamber’s core mission of amplifying the voice of the country’s growing private business community.
The official election results were confirmed in a public announcement from the chamber, which highlighted that the new leadership cohort brings together a diverse cross-section of experienced business professionals from multiple sectors across the national economy. The team has outlined three core priorities for their upcoming term: delivering targeted support to enterprises of every size, from small local startups to large multinational operations, forging stronger cross-sector and public-private partnerships, and driving inclusive, sustainable economic growth across the twin-island nation.
Alongside Samuel, a full slate of executive officers was elected to fill key leadership roles. Dr. Errol Samuel, a business leader with Microcom Ltd., will take up the position of first vice president, while Tamara Lowe-James of regional logistics firm Tropical Shipping will serve as second vice president. Jackie Ferracho-Williams of Flower World Ltd. secured the post of treasurer, rounding out the executive team.
The 2026–2027 board of directors also includes four sector representatives bringing deep experience in finance and technology: Ragi Burton from Caribbean Union Bank, Yasmin Ephraim of Pegasus Technologies Inc., Wayne Hull of Liberty Business/FLOW (C&W), and Priscilla Leonce of CIBC. This cross-sector representation ensures the chamber’s leadership draws on insights from banking, digital innovation, telecommunications, and international finance to address the evolving needs of local businesses.
In an official statement following the vote, the chamber extended formal congratulations to all newly elected leaders, and expressed gratitude to every chamber member who took part in the democratic election process. Looking ahead to the coming term, the organization emphasized that its work will center on three key pillars: fostering innovation to help local businesses compete in global markets, deepening collaborative relationships across all parts of the private sector, and strengthening advocacy to advance policies that support business success and long-term economic resilience for Antigua and Barbuda.