It takes an incredible kind of personality to manage the intricacies of a regulatory agency with the dynamic interplay between increasing autonomy of the agency while managing political control and the public’s expectations. Sounds like quite a balancing act, doesn’t it?
Well, such is the life of Shane Dalling, J.P., Attorney-at-Law and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA), which has most recently
been placed at the centre of national attention as one of the most controversial regulatory agencies in Jamaica.
So we traveled to the FLA on Old Hope Road where the BUZZZ MAGAZINE team spent a moment with the man at the helm of this Agency, who spoke to us on bouncing back from failure, on finding his way after University and on balancing life at the FLA with everything else.
On his journey….
“No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure.” These words, written by American author, Napoleon Hill rings true for the Spanish Town-born Shane Dalling, who has said he is no stranger to challenges.
As a youngster, Shane was always in leadership roles, especially in high school. He was peer council, prefect and role model to many younger children; hence when he passed only one of six CXC exams at the end of his stint at St. Catherine High School, it came as a big surprise to many. However, his determination to make something of himself led him to Portmore Community College where he re-sat his exams within year and passed all five subjects with Distinction. After A ‘level, he went on to the University of the West Indies where he first did a Certificate in Management Studies then a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Management Studies. By then of course, Shane was a more grounded and driven young man who approached life with purpose; so it came as no surprise when, in his second year, the University dubbed him ‘International Relation Specialist’ for having obtained the highest mark in that subject area in the University.
Armed with an Honours Degree, he tested the waters of the Corporate world working at Union Bank (which later became RBTT and now Sagicor), and after a little over a year, he accepted a better offer at the National Commercial Bank. His passion for law and politics however ushered him out of corporate Jamaica and into the seat of Councillor for the Westchester Division in Portmore in 2007. Still not satisfied that politics by itself was his sole calling, he went on to doing his Law Degree with the University of London, then on to the Norman Manley Law School before being called to the Jamaican Bar.
Shane served as Commissioner for the Jamaica Racing Commission where he focused on the regulations of the Racing Industry. In 2014, he started his private practice and was later appointed Managing Director by the Board of Caymanas Track Limited, whose operations he successfully led into divestment- a role which would have served as his dress rehearsal for his current position of CEO of the Firearm Licensing Authority.
On taking the FLA challenge….
With a strong background in law and politics, coupled with his previous experience in regulations in the racing sector – a terrain that he felt was tough enough to prepare him for anything –Shane accepted the top job at the FLA. To say this new journey for the 39-year old family man gives new meaning to baptism by fire is an understatement. Shortly after his appointment, he was met with a few circumstances that tested his resolve; the then sitting board of the Authority resigned, controversies started to spread like wild fire and public trust in the regulations seemed to have eroded completely. This meant that for Shane, there was no time to stop and smell the coffee or to test his new chair. “The task of CEO for the Authority, especially at a time like this, is not an easy one. There is much negativity and mistrust around obtaining a firearm which I believe is linked directly to the lack of knowledge in the public domain. If one does not know the processes and procedures, then that person cannot make the right decision and will not know what to expect when the process starts,” Dalling expressed.
To Read More: Purchase your copy of Volume 9 #5 November-December 2017