The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY 20 Ministry of Works employees were graduated from a Technology Transfer Training course yesterday, a joint venture between the Ministry of Works and Urban Development and Bahamian company Reiss Engineering Ltd.

At the graduation ceremony at the Baha Mar J-Tower, the former Wyndham resort, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Reiss Engineering President Robert Reiss presented the certificates to the 16 employees present.

“I’m elated by this,” Mr Davis said. “It is always heartening to see the transfer of technology and skills from any source to another, particularly when Bahamians are involved. In this instance it’s a Bahamian company that has been a very successful engineering business in the state of Florida. (Mr Reiss) has come home and he’s passing on the technology to persons, particularly in the Ministry of Works so that they can be better equipped as time goes on to execute their mandate for us.”

According to Mr Reiss, his company, on behalf of the ministry, performs the building inspections of the Baha Mar resort construction to “ensure conformance with the Bahamas’ building code and applicable international codes.”

As part of its building inspection services contract with the ministry, Reiss Engineering has been performing training courses within the Bahamian community, including training for ministry inspection staff, College of the Bahamas students and others.

To date, more than 200 Ministry of Works staff, guests and students have received training from Reiss Engineering.

Reiss Engineering has completed over 5,000 inspections of construction at Baha Mar, including all elements of the project including civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, elevators, fire protection systems and more.

Reiss Engineering is the largest Bahamian owned engineering firm, with a staff of 50 and offices in Nassau, Orlando and Tampa, Florida.