The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A PARTNERSHIP agreement was signed between the Grand Bahama Shipyard and the government on Thursday for the recruitment and training of some 600 Bahamians over the next four years to replace and significantly lower the expatriate workforce at the shipyard.

Prime Minister Perry Christie was in Freeport for the signing, which was described as an important public/private partnership to creating career opportunities for Bahamians.

“It is going to require significant funding from the government and shipyard, but the government is well aware in doing it they are creating for young Grand Bahamians a career opportunity, and that is so important,” Mr Christie said.

“And the fact that we are able to take about 200 in a given year, to me, is a wonderful impact and positive impact on the economy of Grand Bahama.”

Mr Christie, along with several members of his Cabinet, was also given a tour of the yard. He also had the opportunity to speak with the Bahamian staff in the cafeteria.

Steve Jervis, new CEO of the Grand Bahama Shipyard, said the training and employment agreement provides a framework necessary to take the company forward over the next 10 years.

He said they will commence training in April of 200 semi-skilled tradesmen in rigging, scaffolding, painting, and blasting.

Additionally, the shipyard will also increase its intake of Bahamian apprentices from 12 to 40 on an annual basis, commencing in September.

According to Mr Jervis, after four years of training and on successful completion of the programme, the apprentices will be offered positions within skilled trades, such as engine mechanics, welders, pipefitters and electricians.

“Within four years we expect to have some 160 apprentices under training which will be carried out in partnership with The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), and additionally a number of the apprentices will be enrolled at the College of The Bahamas, and eventually transferred to technical and commercial departments,” he said.

The number of expatriate workers at the shipyard currently exceeds the Bahamian workforce. The GBSY is the largest ship care facility in the Caribbean region, which carries out major repair and conversion services.

Mr Jervis believes that the agreement “demonstrates significant public/private partnership in creating sustainable employment opportunities and economic benefits for the island of Grand Bahama and by extension the Bahamas.”

Mr Christie, who was very impressed with the shipyard’s apprenticeship programme, had pledged at the company’s graduation ceremony last year that government would match the shipyard’s 12 for a total 24.

He was very pleased to learn that the shipyard had decided to increase the number to 40, and challenged company executives to further increase the number to 50 and promised that the government will also put up some financing for it.

The prime minister believes that the shipyard’s apprenticeship programme is a model for other industries (BORCO, PharmaChem, StatOil) in Grand Bahama to follow in terms of recruitment and training of Bahamians.

“This is wonderful and we have had discussions this morning going on in Bimini and Abaco with a view to doing the same thing on a national basis throughout the country,” the prime minister said.

“The government will use the programme of this kind as a stimulus… that will be enduring, lasting and really foundational for the economy of the Bahamas.”

Also accompanying Mr Christie were Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, and Director of the National Training Agency Agatha Marcelle.

Dr Darville, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government, said it will create long awaited opportunities for Bahamians.

“This programme is the first of its kind in that over the course of the next four years some 600 Bahamians will be recruited, trained, and certified, and to replace expat workers currently employed at the Grand Bahama Shipyard making this company a majority Bahamian operated company.

“This public/private partnership is a clear sign of investor confidence, which also is evidenced by the economic expansion scheduled to take place on Grand Bahama,” Dr Darville said.