The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian contractors yesterday vowed not to go “quietly into the night” over the $74 million owed to them over the Baha Mar project, despite acknowledging that their recourse is limited.

Leonard Sands, the Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president, said yesterday it would continue to advocate on behalf of contractors owed over Baha Mar, and was hoping for the best possible outcome.

“While we know that many of our members are affected, I think we are a bit limited in what we can physically do, but what we intend to continue doing is advocate and not allow their voices to go quietly into the night,” Mr Sands said.

“We have raised the point that we would not want to see any of the contractors debts be written off to zero. We continue to advocate for the Government, through its efforts, to help bring a resolution to this matter. We want the best outcome. That’s what the BCA would like.”

The BCA is set to host an industry ‘mix and mingle’ this Friday  to promote awareness of issues facing the industry, while creating new relationships and strengthening existing ones.

Larry Treco, president of CGT Construction, said the Contractors Bill - which could soon be tabled in Parliament - has been before Government for almost 20 years.

“The construction industry is always looked at as a default industry. Quite frankly, it is not,” he said. It is the third largest industry in the country.

“People will look at it and say it’s people who aren’t doing well in high school or have limited education, but construction is a highly technical and highly specialised field. We do need the full spectrum, including labourers, but this is a very technical and specialised industry.

“We have, like every industry, problems with a few bad apples.  We need to regulate the industry. We’re looking for accountability. If we  have accountability we will be able to bring up the level of construction in the country.

Richard Wilson, Cavalier Construction’s managing director,  aid Bahamian contractors should seek to help one another.

“I think that the Chamber has to set up a committee so that the contractors, whether they are small, medium or large, can come to that committee, voice their concerns, and they can get advice on what they can do. I think that that is the only way we can go forward,” Mr Wilson said.