Members of the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) are applauding the recent launch of a multimillion-dollar apprenticeship programme as a “good start to filling the huge gap that exists in the area of skilled tradesmen.
“Construction developments like what’s taking place at Baha Mar and Kerzner really create a challenge for Bahamian contractors,” BCA Chairman Terrence Knowles said during a recent interview with The Bahama Journal.
“It means we must source those people and the lack of those skills limit what we’re able to do in a specified timeline. This then increases our cost because we must now bring in more managers to supervise those persons who are unskilled.”
Mr. Knowles added that with the help of the apprenticeship programme, contractors are now able to spread themselves over more projects, which in the end would drive down the cost of doing business.
But BCA Vice-Chairman, Godfrey Forbes is hoping the apprenticeship programme addresses what he says is another serious problem facing the industry.
“We find that the very few skilled workers that we do have are lured away when the major developers move in with higher wages,” he said.
“This makes it even more difficult for Bahamian contractors to keep their labourers, who in many cases they have trained for years and years.”
The launch of the apprenticeship programme follows the Ministry of Education’s initial discussions with Kerzner officials earlier this year about training initiatives designed to meet the employment opportunities being created during the mega resort’s Phase III expansion.
Kerzner International later teamed up with Baha Mar to push the initiative with the help of the ministries of Education and Labour, the Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the BCA.
The initiative has been divided into six industry apprenticeship programmes in the construction trade – carpentry, electrical installation, masonry, plumbing, air condition and refrigeration and metal fasteners.
According to Minister Sears, approximately 180 apprentices have already been recruited for the construction trade programme, drawn from several sources – BTVI, both Kerzner International and Baha Mar and referrals by the Department of Labour.
Kerzner officials say roughly 117 persons began the programme last Monday.
The group will receive theoretical as well as on the job training on site of Kerzner International, a stipend of $50 per week during classroom training and a wage of $6 an hour during on-site training.
The cost has been pegged at $1 million per year or $3 million over the three-year cycle.
Beyond the classroom training, this translates into a total investment in excess of $7 million, according to officials.
The apprenticeship programme will be funded through the Ministry of Education’s budget.
Baha Mar and Kerzner International will provide additional funding of $1 million each per year.
It is envisioned that once the tradesmen have completed Kerzner International’s third phase, they will be ready to launch into Baha Mar’s first phase.
By: Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
