The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The absence of “fair play” in the tendering process for public contracts remains one of the most significant challenges facing the Bahamian construction industry, the Bahamian Contractors Association’s(BCA) president believes.

Leonard Sands told Tribune Business: “I think one of the most significant challenges to the construction industry is the lack of fair play. There are many persons who are not happy about the way that projects are put out to bid.

“Who are awarded projects is not the issue; it’s the process. We do not have the right to dictate to any government, agency or private citizen who they do business with. We would like to see, though, especially when it comes to public sector partners, that there is fair play across the board.”

Mr Sands added: “When there is public tendering, there ought to be a list of persons who are tendering contracts, and the result of those tenders should be made public. When you do things in a vacuum no one learns.

“We have to be about transparency and transferring information, so that the industry as a whole can benefit. That’s what our membership would like to see. There has to be openness and transparency in a lot of government bid contracts so that there is shared learning and you feel comfortable that you didn’t waste your time.”

Mr Sands added that the long-awaited Contractor’s Bill was an issue still high on the BCA’s agenda, stating that the legislation would help to regulate and bring added legitimacy to the industry.