Despite misgivings, officials from the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John Chambers of Commerce have decided to participate in the Economic Summit that opens today on St. Thomas. However, labor leaders won't attend.
Earlier this week several people, including some listed as speakers, said privately that the groups would boycott the summit.
John deJongh, recently elected president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber, confirmed Wednesday that his organization will participate.
DeJongh said there had been concerns regarding follow-up after the summit. But the business groups have been assured a "select committee" will be formed after the two-day summit to make recommendations to the Legislature, he said. The committee will be made up of representatives from the private sector, labor and government, deJongh said he was told.
DeJongh also said Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has agreed to include the committee's recommendations in the chief executive's five-year plan.
But Luis "Tito" Morales, head of the Central Labor Council, said Thursday that his members won't participate because of the summit's format and its lack of time for brainstorming and formulating an action plan.
"There's no sense in going," Morales told Radio One, saying he didn't expect anything new to come out of the meetings.
The summit opens today on St. Thomas, then moves Friday to St. Croix.
