The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemdia.net

THE Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) is demanding the Government and developer "clarify" how many Bahamian companies and labourers are employed on Phase II of The Pointe project.

Leonard Sands, the BCA president, told Tribune Business that while "the project seems to be progressing well", Bahamian contractors wanted to know what level of involvement they could expect at the site next to downtown Nassau's British Colonial Hilton.

The Pointe's developer is China Construction America (CCA), Baha Mar's controversial main contractor and the Hilton's owner, and Mr Sands expressed concern that local contractors and skilled tradespersons were missing out on work they were qualified to perform.

"Even during the holiday period they appear to be engaged in aggressive construction," the BCA president said of The Pointe. "While I'm happy with the work going on, we would want to know what is the involvement of Bahamian contractors this time around.

"The BCA right now wants to know how this multi-million project is going to be constructed and completed, and how Bahamian workers will be a part of this. We are asking for clarity. I know there were a lot of Chinese workers on the ground. I would like to know what's going to happen as they get into vertical construction, pouring concrete and laying blocks; that is something a large portion of our workforce is very skilled at."

The Heads of Agreement for the project, tabled in Parliament last year, granted CCA between 400-500 work permits for the $200 million development.

The deal, dated June 18, 2015, stipulated that Bahamians would comprise 70 per cent of the total construction workforce, once those employed by local sub-contractors were included in the calculation.

And Bahamian sub-contractors were supposed to receive "approximately 40 per cent of development work.... in various classifications", although these were not listed.

Chinese labour and materials typically go wherever Beijing and its investments are in the world, meaning that The Pointe model is little different from their government's norm.

"It is understood and agreed that the workforce employed by the Bahamian sub-contractors are part of the overall Bahamian to non-Bahamian labour ratio, and Bahamians will represent 70 per cent of the total labour requirement for the development," the Heads of Agreement state.

"The parties may, through mutual agreement, vary their employment ratio if it becomes necessary for earlier completion."

The 70 per cent 'Bahamian labour component' is thus subject to alteration but, based on the 400-500 Chinese work permits, this implies around 800-1,000 construction jobs for Bahamians.

The Heads of Agreement also committed CCA to "make every effort to fill as many jobs as possible with Bahamian citizens". However, it then added: "The Government recognises, however, that due to the development of the proposed high-rise structures and the tight schedule to complete the development, non-Bahamian labour with special skills and expertise that are not readily available in the Bahamas will be required.

"To this end, the Government agrees to facilitate the grant of between 400 and 500 work permits to qualified persons on a short-term or longer basis, depending on the job classification and the ability of [CCA] to find and/or train suitable candidates for such jobs."

The Pointe's director of external affairs, Leslie Pindling, previously told this newspaper that the Heads of Agreement stipulated that there be a ratio of 60 per cent Chinese workers to 40 per cent Bahamians, but only during the development's super-structure phase or start-up construction.

When this is completed - foundation work for the already-completed eight-storey, 1,000-car garage, condominium and entertainment hotels - more Bahamians will be needed to do the finish work. This includes electrical, plumbing and dry wall work.

Mr Pindling also confirmed late last year that Phase II is expected to be completed by end-2018. This includes development of a 100-room, eight-storey condominium complex with oceanfront residences and a marina. The first phase was centred on the multi-storey parking garage, which now dominates the entrance to downtown Nassau on West Bay Street.

Mr Sands, meanwhile, also urged the full enactment of the Contractor's Act to regulate the industry, and allow Bahamian contractors to take full advantage of the various projects coming on stream this year.

He told Tribune Business: "There are a number of projects in the pipeline, and from a Bahamian contractor's standpoint it is going to be a good year for construction.

"But the necessary management of the industry has to happen through the full enactment of the Contractors Act. It's not wise to continue the status quo. We need a regulated industry if we are going to take full advantage of all the developments in the pipeline."