The Tribune

BAHAMAS Striping, the self-starter grant-winner, is hoping that it has “silenced all doubters” over its ability to handle major projects with the recent completion of a major striping project at the Eastern Road junction over the Thanksgiving holiday.
 It completed improvements at the Newgate Road junction near Blair Estates.

Contracted by Bernard ‘Porky’ Dorsett of Porky’s Trucking & Equipment, and supervised by the Ministry of Works & Urban Development, Bahamas Striping was contracted to install long-lasting thermoplastic road marking and retro-reflective road studs or “cat’s eyes”.

The job, which increases traffic flow and safety, and lessens congestion along Eastern Road, consisted of three-stop junction assemblies, lane dividers, directional arrows, hatching and a give-way junction.

The supervised team was aged 25 years or younger, with the road studs being laid down by a 23-year old Bahamian. The job was the first time that the young crew had been able to apply their classroom knowledge in the field after six weeks of instruction by certified UK trainer Brian Bostock, who recently arrived from Liverpool.

“Bahamas Striping performed in a timely fashion and professional manner. I was very impressed,” said Mr Dorsett. “This company certainly brings something to the industry.”
 Two engineers from the Ministry Works gave Bahamas Striping credit. Senior engineer Dexter Williams said: “I was very impressed. Their standard of striping is to the standard that we expect at the Ministry. The training by the UK striper is working with this young crew. It’s inspiring seeing these young Bahamians doing this level of work.”
 Atario Mitchell, president of Bahamas Striping, said he had seen a 100 per cent improvement in his crew since Mr Bostock began training them in a classroom setting six weeks ago.

Despite not having thermoplastic projects in the pipeline, Bahamas Striping invested in training, relying on the new government’s promises of forthcoming opportunities.

Bahamas Striping marketing director, Bob Bower, said: “It’s now clear to everyone that the foreigners who have been dominating striping of public roads in this country for more than 10 years don’t need to be here taking all our jobs - especially when our work is equal or better then theirs.

“In the local striping industry as a whole, people can see the era of foreign domination is coming to an end. This job gave our 13-member crew a start in training and practical experience to get ready for the estimated $4.5 million worth of striping we expect in the next five years.”