The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Several small Bahamian contractors have voiced scepticism over being able to win government housing contracts despite the Davis administration’s pledge to give them access

Edison Thompson, owner/operator of Edison Thompson Construction, told Tribune Business: “I really don’t have any prospects of getting any of those contracts because they never give me work. All they have to do is pick up the phone and call me, just like how everyone else calls me, so they really don’t do a good job at seeking out good contractors to give work to.

“Don’t forget this is a political thing, too, and because I don’t go on any side of the fence I always get caught up in the middle because they don’t see me as an FNM (Free National Movement) or a PLP (Progressive Liberal Party) supporter. We have that in this country that if you are not a part of a political party, you don’t get anything.”

He spoke out after JoeBeth Coleby-Davis, minister of housing and transport, last week promised there is a “new day in housing development”. She announced that the Ministry’s private sector partners will be developing entire subdivisions, includes all necessary infrastructure and building a significant amount of homes, to relieve the financial burden on government.

Mrs Coleby-Davis added: “We’ve reinstated our small contractors’ programme. This initiative is for small contractors who are prepared to build for the Government.”

Mr Thompson, however, said: “We live in a small society, and there is always somebody who can go to the source directly. Some people go crying and begging so they can get some work. But I’m out here and just as you called, people call me and I get work, but I don’t depend on the Government because it never worked out for me.”

Lavado Brown, owner/operator of Black Bahamian Builders Construction, added: “I think they need to give some of these contracts to the smaller contractors instead of the big business owners who have always been getting the contracts. Give the smaller and younger people a chance to get some work.”

Kermit Ferguson, owner/operator of AK Maintenance, said the administration of government contracts for small home construction should be placed in the private sector’s hands so that smaller contractors such as himself could feel “confident” they will be treated fairly.