The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Striping is looking to create 20 new jobs initially as it moves into airport maintenance with its subsidiary Airport Maintenance Services (APS).

The grant-winning striping company yesterday signed an agreement with the international airport markings and highway contracting services company Hi-Lite Markings. APS’s president Atario Mitchell told Tribune Business: “This is a two year training an facilitation agreement whereby Hi-lite will lend us their expertise, their machinery and their knowledge in airport maintenance. They will also be offering training. The agreement allows for our guys to travel world wide and work on airports Hi-Lite is working on. They have extended an invitation to us where we could head to Mexico with them next week. This is pretty much just about getting our guys out their in the airport maintenance field on a world wide level.”

Mr Mitchell added: “As a company we always looking for niche markets to get into. The Government is in the process of trying to acquire our airspace and once they are successful in doing that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be more stringent on the Government so I felt that it would be a good market to get into, to get the airport up to standard before the Government does that.” Mr Mitchell said the company would hire 20 persons initially, adding: “As it grows we just might decide to hire more guys”.

John McNeely, President of Hi-Lite Markings, said: “This is an opportunity for us to expand our business in the Caribbean and we were looking for a partner in The Bahamas who shared our passion and vision for airport safety. With Atario and his team we found people that not only wanted to employ local people but they want to be trained in the services that we offer with regards to runway safety.” He added: “Our company manages runway safety and we develop safety management systems for airports and that includes runway markings, asphalt rejuvenation, rubber removal and any service on a runway to increase the lifecycle.” The company has offices in New York, Florida, Canada and throughout Latin America.