$60m 'only a portion' of overall benefit for Bahamians
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:
BAHA MAR executives say the $60 million allocated to Bahamian contractors is only a portion of the overall direct benefit earmarked for locals.
Robert Sands, Baha Mar's senior vice-president for governmental and external affairs, said it is "erroneous" to portray the initial $60 million being allocated as the total direct benefit to Bahamians.
He said the company's pledge to award all contracts for the $200 million first phase construction of the $2.6 billion Cable Beach redevelopment is still current. And the figure released to the public represents those initial works the company has quantified.
"Our position has not in fact changed. We have always said in the first phase the value of the works was around $200 million. The first part of that $200 million is $60 million; that is what we have announced and put a value on immediately," said Mr Sands.
The work scheduled for phase one includes the road re-routing, the building of the Commercial Village and the Pompey Village Straw Market.
There "absolutely" will be additional money to be earned by Bahamians in the remaining phases of the project, whether through direct contracts with local companies, the employment for tradesmen or the purchase of local goods and materials, he said.
October 08, 2010
tribune242
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Cable Beach redevelopment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cable Beach redevelopment. Show all posts
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
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
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
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