The Tribune

Bahamas Striping, the road marking company founded from a Self-Starter programme grant, has broken ground on its new $400,000 headquarters and manufacturing plant.

The building will be located in the Industrial Park near Abundant Life Road, on land leased from the Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation (BAIC).

It will house offices, storage, training facilities and a manufacturing plant for concrete products such as parking lot wheel stops.

Ryan Pinder, minister of financial services, praised Bahamas Striping’ founder, Atario Mitchell, for acting as a role model and a mentor for the 13 young Bahamians who comprise Bahamas Striping’s crew.

“I want to commend BAIC for having the vision and working hand-in-hand with a young Bahamian-owned business to cause this expansion, with this groundbreaking, on government land, and for providing the access and opportunity for Bahamian entrepreneurs,” Mr Pinder said.

“Bahamas Striping is here today because of multi-agency synchronising and efficiency to ensure provision of opportunity. That’s an example of what good governance is about: To create opportunity for young Bahamian entrepreneurs. And that’s the philosophy that operates in this government.”

“What we’ll see is Atario acting as a role model for young entrepreneurs in the Bahamas. And what demonstrates the character of the leadership with Atario and his executive is his interest in helping his country, his community and the people of this country,” added Mr Pinder.

“As his Member of Parliament I can see at the ground level how he wants to give back. Those are the leadership traits that need to be recognised.”

Mr Pinder, who is the Cabinet minister with responsibility for manufacturing, said: “It is my duty - not only my desire, but my duty - to ensure that any of the available incentives and government support now in place, and in law, shall be extended on an expedited basis to your company. That is the right thing to do.”

Highlighting Bahamas Striping’s philosophy of training and mentoring young men, Mr Pinder said: “I value what you are doing in this country, not just creating a business for yourself but creating a framework for many young men to succeed.”

Also attending the groundbreaking was Renardo Curry, parliamentary secretary for Abaco and MP for North Abaco, where Atario Mitchell lived as a child and grew up.

Don Major, BAIC’s deputy general manager, welcomed Bahamas Striping into its park.

He said: “Mitchell didn’t turn to crime or gang activities like so many young, but instead used hard work to build something. I’ve been watching this young rising company from its start three years ago, and am amazed at what they’ve achieved.

“Here they are on BAIC land next to some great entrepreneurs. We’re proud to help him with inexpensive land so he can go and get funding for building his business. This is what BAIC is all about: Helping Bahamian entrepreneurs. The Government is doing its job and this is a great example.”

Mr Mitchell, Bahamas Striping’s president, said: “This new head office and manufacturing plant will consist of a state-of-the-art classroom where our staff will be taught and trained in all aspects of road striping.

“That’s both theoretical and hands-on technical training using the UK standards according to the Chapter 5 striping manual, to which our country complies with. Here, young Bahamians will also be working in our manufacturing division, producing concrete wheel stops, paving stones, anti-parking pyramids and other decorative concrete products.

“It is our goal by the end of September to hire at least another 40 young men in our training programme. Although we are a Nassau-based company, all of these new hires will not come from Nassau alone. It is our intent to hire a significant number from Abaco and Eleuthera and other islands as we go to them,” added Mr Mitchell.

“My vision for our head office in Nassau is to bring in young men that seek opportunity from the Family Islands, to train them in road striping, maintenance and manufacturing, and have them return back to their island to make their roads safer and properly maintain them.”

Mr Mitchell said the company intends to grow into a full road services maintenance company, where it can install or provide anything related to traffic safety and road maintenance except the actual paving of roads.

Bahamas Striping also announced its new managing director, Allen Albury, a Grand Bahama native.

Also attending the groundbreaking was David Bullock, chief engineer of civil design at the Ministry of Works and Urban Development.

The invocation and the blessing of the ground were performed by Father Anselm Russell of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church.