The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE long-awaited Contractor’s Bill is being reviewed by the Ministry of Works according to Bahamian Contractor’s Association (BCA) president Godfrey Forbes.

He told Tribune Business that the BCA was still trying to ‘sort out’ an agreement for the transfer of electrical contractors from the ambit of the Electricity Act to the new Bill.

“We met with the new minister shortly after his appointment to office. We have one point that we need to get sorted out and that is as it relates to the electrical aspect of the bill dealing mainly with electrical contractors because of the fact that there is an Act already that governs electrical contractors.

“What we are doing now would basically be crossing that particular Act as it is and we are trying to get that sorted out whereby we can get an agreement from the Electrical Contractors Association to have that Act repealed and then have this Act cover all construction disciplines,” said Forbes.

The BCA is the chief proponent of the bill which seeks greater regulation of the construction industry to protect both contractors and consumers. Currently there is no official industry-wide regulatory control. The Contractor’s Bill would ensure the licensing, regulation and control of the industry. According to Mr Forbes, contractors across the Caribbean have expressed interest in viewing the bill so as to develop regulation for the construction industry in their respective countries. The BCA has announced that it will be hosting the inaugural Regional Conference of Caribbean Contractors, October 18-20, aimed at addressing challenges in the construction industry across the region, among them bonding and financing, joint venturing and project management.