The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A NEWLY-created PVC pipe manufacturer has pledged to hire more than 90 persons for the construction of its $1m Grand Bahama plant that is due to be completed by September 2024.

Mitchell Thurston, the Bahamas Mineral & Manufacturing Corporation’s (BMMC) chief executive, said his ambition is to bring about a “revolution in Bahamian building material manufacturing” by providing quality construction products that can compete at a global level.

“Our projections anticipate the creation of no fewer than 80 positions in construction, exclusive of the 13 employment opportunities generated during the tidying and preparation phase of this property,” he said at BMMC’s official groundbreaking. The plant’s construction is due to begin in January 2024 and, upon completion, it is expected to provide 33 full-time jobs.

The five-acre site presently hosts eight structures, most of them income generating, which supports another aspect of BMMC’s plans. Mr Thurston said: “We stand in the heart of our company: A cutting-edge 19,560 square foot facility where we’ll transform raw materials such as PVC resin and calcium carbonate into high quality PVC pipes.

“The cost of this will be over $1m and we were keen on doing our construction. With the cost of construction, we are also building with the intention of future storms, so we are building on piles or stilts and go against a traditional fill structure. So it’s not on foundation but on piles, and it saves us a lot of money on time, labour and fill.”

Mr Thurston added: “We truly dug in our heels, tirelessly working to establish our company. We hit the ground running, earnestly seeking out the ideal strategic partners who could provide us with the necessary equipment, expertise and investment capital. It was through this unabating effort that we were able to negotiate and acquire this property that now serves as the headquarters of our enterprise.

“Our journey also led us to various corners of the world such as the United States, Mexico, Ghana and China. We wished to ensure that we understood every minute detail required to run this business successfully. We were adamant about building an organisation that boasted the best machinery, the highest quality raw materials and highly experienced personnel.”

The BMMC principal said the project has taken two years and eight months to bring to fruition. He added that the affordability and availability of land, reliable infrastructure and the proximity to Freeport Container Port for the transhipment and export of its products made Grand Bahama the ideal location for the factory.

BMMC will also introduce a cadet programme in = Grand Bahama schools, and the top students will be offered jobs to join their team.

Prime Minister Philip Davis KC said the Government would use its tariff policy to ensure BMMC’s products remain price competitive against imported rivals. “By reducing reliance on imported PVC products and establishing a local production facility, BMMC supports Bahamian infrastructure and aligns with the nation’s environmental sustainability goals ,” he said.

“The journey and entrepreneurial spirit of many young Bahamians is a testament to what they can aspire to and achieve. The Government of the Bahamas is committed to providing the necessary tools and resources, ensuring their journey towards success is not a lonely one. This is a strategic investment in the very fabric of our nation’s economy.”

Ginger Moxey, minister for Grand Bahama, added: “This new venture seeks to open doors for innovative learning, creating careers and jobs for Bahamians. Innovation is critical to the growth and sustainability of our island’s economy, making Grand Bahama the home of innovation in our blueprint for change.”

Derek Newbold, the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) chief investment officer, said: “This groundbreaking signals the dawn of a new era where young Bahamians become stakeholders in this economy, creating employment opportunities.

“With over $1.8bn of investments and planned developments, including the airport and the new hospital, which would total about $2.3bn of investments, the timing for the launch of BMMC couldn’t be better.”