October 1, 2018
Leonard Sands
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Contractor chief challenges ‘short sighted’ stadium deal
THE Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday argued it was “short-sighted” not to ensure the national stadium’s overhaul involves skills and knowledge transfer by the Chinese.
Contractors ‘within 30 days’ of licensing legal challenge
BAHAMIAN contractors say they are “within 30 days” of launching Judicial Review proceedings over the Government’s failure to implement the Act and licensing regime designed to regulate the industry.
Gov’t’s $2.5m elevator cost ‘quite exceptional’
THE Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president says spending $2.5m to replace an elevator at the Government’s Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre is “quite exceptional”, and asked: “Is it made of gold?”
Contractors hopeful of uptick - but cautious on bank rules
BAHAMAS Contractors Association president Leonard Sands does not see construction slowing down for 2024 and could see a 20 percent uptick, but warned restrictive banking policies could put a damper on the growth.
‘Don’t revise entire building code - just adjust for certain islands’
BAHAMAS Contractors Association president Leonard Sands said yesterday that the entire building code does not need to be revised - just the code for certain islands.
Construction’s fears on ‘bread and butter’
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president has voiced fears that construction’s “bread and butter” will be undermined if the declining trend in mortgage loan approvals persists.
Professional ‘step child’ hits $1bn permits mark
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president says the construction industry is still being treated like a “step child” despite data showing it is already a $1bn per year industry.
Construction sector woes ‘a serious risk’ for public
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday said the deficiencies he identified in a home being built for a major residential developer expose the “serious risk” the sector’s regulatory shortcomings pose to the public.
'Screeching economic halt' if diesel stop lasts 10-14 days
Bahamians could "see a totally different economy" if the decision by most petroleum dealers to halt diesel sales lasts for up to two weeks, a well-known contractor warned yesterday.
Illegal construction fight has been 'a rank failure'
The Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president yesterday said builders are asking "why should we follow the law" following the country's "rank failure to manage the built environment".
BCA president says Davis administration ‘more focused’ on dealing with illegal labour
BAHAMAS Contractors Association president Leonard Sands said the Davis administration has supported its tough talk on work permit laws with action.
Contractors fear return to Act ‘drawing board’
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday said the industry is “absolutely not enthused at all” over signs that the Government may “go back to the drawing board” on legislation to regulate it.
Construction work permits ‘shifting in wrong direction’
The “balance” between Bahamian and foreign labour in the construction industry has “started to shift in the wrong direction”, a prominent contractor is arguing, while calling for a halt to all general labour work permits.
‘Chickens home to roost’ on construction financing
THE Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president says “the chickens have come home to roost” with post COVID- 19 inflation presenting a “huge challenge” for banks in financing residential and commercial construction.
Construction chiefs differ on labour gap
Past and present Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) presidents yesterday differed over whether construction is suffering an increase in skilled labour shortages post-COVID as one branded such arguments “a cop out”.
Contractors Act reform must prevent ‘storm’
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday said the Government is prioritising reforms that will prevent a “storm” erupting in the sector through “thousands” of persons potentially being barred from obtaining licences.
Budget’s housing focus can be ‘windfall catalyst’
The Budget’s focus on stimulating home ownership “could be the catalyst that triggers an economic windfall” by boosting investor confidence in the wider economy, the Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president believes.
Ten percent rise in construction costs predicted this year
The Bahamas Contractors Association president said that rising shipping costs will continue to drive construction materials prices higher this year by ten percent at least.
High oil prices may force Gov’t roads ‘scale back’
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) interim president yesterday said high oil and construction material prices may force the Government to “scale back” on its capital works budget for this and the upcoming fiscal year.
Bahamian contractors ‘scrapping for 40% left’
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) interim president yesterday urged the Government to “save the 40 percent that’s left for locals” by finally enacting self-regulation and “fixing a broken” work permit renewal system.
Pushed to ‘brink of collapse’ through 40% cost hikes
An ex-Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said many contractors are “on the brink of collapse” due to fixed-price contracts that exclude the impact of 40 percent cost hikes.
Contractors: ‘Perfect storm’ over raw materials quotes
Bahamian contractors “cannot control prices” because quotes on building materials are holding for as little as 48 hours, with one saying yesterday: “It’s just the perfect storm.”
Construction costs to jump 20% this year
Two ex-Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) presidents yesterday warned that construction costs will likely increase up to 20 percent this year as cement became the latest product to take a hit.
‘Nothing to lose’ over concrete export venture
A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president says the country must explore transforming itself into an exporter of pre-cast concrete products, and urged: “We have nothing to lose.”
No more home waste: ‘We’re on our knees’
THE Bahamas “cannot afford” a repeat of the waste involved in the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) $10.8m housing loan with the country “on its knees”, two ex-Contractors Association chiefs warned.
‘On fire’ materials to hit construction
Contractors yesterday warned their home building clients face “a hit to their pockets” in 2021 from an “on fire” construction materials market where prices have risen ten percent since the New Year alone.
Construction prevents 'alarming' disorder rise
A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said construction is preventing "an alarming number of things happening" due to its employment of unskilled young men.
Supply disruption may cause ‘10% hit’ for contractors
Bahamian contractors may suffer up to “a ten percent bottom line hit” due to supply chain disruption during the COVID-19 lockdown, an ex-Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) chief said yesterday.
Construction starts to take '40-60% hit'
New construction starts will take a 40-60 percent hit, a former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president predicted yesterday, with the industry unlikely to rebound until near year-end. Leonard Sands, pictured , told Tribune Business that whi
Construction 'being killed' by large-scale expat hiring
The Bahamian construction industry is being “killed and decimated” by the large-scale importation of foreign workers for jobs that are not being made known to locals, it was argued yesterday.Leonard Sands, the Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA)
Minister told: 'Make this very first thing for 2020'
An ex-Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday renewed calls for the government to properly regulate the sector following Cavalier’s failure, adding: “It’s critical to our survival.”Leonard Sands told Tribune Business that fully imp
Abaco's 'total eclipse' on 10,000 home jobs
An ex-Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday predicted a rebuilt Abaco will "totally eclipse" its pre-Dorian look with up to 10,000 jobs created by the Government's 400 homes plan alone.
'Caught with pants down' on contractor regulation
Two past Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) presidents yesterday said Hurricane Dorian had “caught the government with its pants down” when it came to the industry’s self-regulation.Both Leonard Sands and Stephen Wrinkle told Tribune Business tha
‘Don’t scrap home construction programme’
FORMER Bahamas Contractors Association president Leonard Sands yesterday urged the government not to scrap its home construction programme as the sale of serviced lots was not a real solution to increase Bahamian home ownership.
‘Political threats forced me to quit’
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday blamed “sinister and unprecedented” political pressure for forcing him to resign to protect the group’s advocacy efforts.
Contractor chief: Political pressure forced me out
The Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday blamed “sinister and unprecedented” political pressure for forcing him to resign to protect the group’s advocacy efforts.Leonard Sands told Tribune Business that the BCA’s executive boa
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