Bahamian Contractors' Association fears inadequate funding for a national training programme to certify Bahamian construction workers for jobs on the Baha Mar project

Funding fears over Baha Mar construction training
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
tthompson@tribunemedia.net:



THE Bahamian Contractors' Association fears that a national training programme needed to certify construction workers for employment on the Baha Mar development will be impeded by inadequate funding.

The organisation is calling for a tangible commitment from the developers before work begins on the $2.6 billion Cable Beach redevelopment to fund the training programme - a joint venture of the association and trade school BTVI.

"While they (Baha Mar) appear to be genuinely interested in both the short and long term success of the project and the country, they have informed us that presently there is no funding allocated for any training of construction personnel," according to the BCA's position paper on the project, which was recently given to government and the developers.

"We find the fact that a $2.6 billion project is proceeding with no training programme, or responsibility for one, incomprehensible. They have assured us that under their Heads of Agreement (with the government) there is apparently no stipulation for this critical and necessary component," said the BCA, in part.

As a non-profit organisation that operates primarily on membership dues, the BCA cannot fund the initiative at BTVI, an institution that relies on government subsidies. So far, nearly 500 tradesmen and contractors have registered for enrolment at BTVI's training programme.

"One of the possibilities we have discussed with Baha Mar is collecting a percentage of every contract awarded to be allocated for the training of Bahamian workers."

The Baha Mar project has yet to be formally approved by government. A labour resolution on the thousands of work permits the developers are seeking in Chinese labour will be brought to Parliament next week.

The peak period for Baha Mar's construction is between month 24 and month 36 of the project, and at that time there also will be more than 2,500 Bahamian construction workers employed.

Total employment at the peak of the project will be close to 7,500 foreign and Bahamian workers. The China Export-Import Bank and China State Construction are Baha Mar's financing and equity/project manager partners.

September 04, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International