Foreign Contractor Blasted On Bahamas Labour Criticisms – Bahamas Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said it was totally unfair, unjust and untrue for Baha Mars foreign bathroom manufacturer to criticise this nations skills construction labour shortages.

Stephen Wrinkle told Tribune Business that the assertion by Oldcastle SurePods, which made 1,800 prefabricated bathrooms for Baha Mars casino and Grand Hyatt hotels, again showed how the Government had failed to protect Bahamian contractors and employees.

The criticism arousing Mr Wrinkles ire came in a press release issued yesterday by Oldcastle to tout its bathrooms, which were pre-assembled and then shipped by container to Baha Mars property in Nassau prior to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing,

In addition to the speed, simplicity, superior quality and safety benefits of modular bathrooms, two things stand out with this project, said Bill Seery, Oldcastle SurePods director of business development.

Installing 1,800 bathrooms in one project site is our biggest job to date. Second, was our ability to ship to an island that faces skilled construction labour shortages.

Mr Wrinkle took issue with the latter remark, describing himself as saddened and disappointed by Oldcastles dismissive comment about the quality of the Bahamian construction workforce.

He questioned how many Bahamian contractors the company had talked to, or knew, and added: Thats totally unfair to Bahamian contractors and workers; totally unfair, unjust and untrue, and, once again, the Bahamas is not looking out for the interests of the Bahamian people.

How can Oldcastle presume to know what our construction capabilities are? They didnt contact the BCA for any relationship, and have not talked to any of the main contractors, yet they come in duty-free, get free board and house, do the work and take the profits home, while we have thousands of construction workers out of work.

Mr Wrinkle added: That doesnt compute. Thats why the economy is in the shape its in.

This will continue to be the modus operandi until we have a Government that respects the interests of industry and the private sector.

Oldcastle said its product had been selected by China Construction America (CCA), Baha Mars main contractor, to eliminate thousands of man hours from the project site, while ensuring five-star bathroom quality.

Oldcastle added that the prefabricated bathrooms were easy to lift, place and install, helping developers save time and money.

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Foreign Contractor Blasted On Bahamas Labour Criticisms - Bahamas Tribune