History of The BCA

The 1960s were a time when British investment in The Bahamas had increased and with it from the UK came contractors, such as Sir Robert McAlpine, Higgs and Hill, Taylor Woodrow and Bernard Sunley. Along with Henry C. Beck from the United States of America and with smaller foreign contractors, they soon overpowered a struggling Bahamian industry, leaving them meager pickings. The Association fought back and, using the power of an increasing membership, lobbied the then Government, the United Bahamian Party (UBP) for industry safeguards.

The BCA won the day and succeeded in some measure in protecting their members and a flagging Bahamian construction industry. Government established a limit of 250,000 British Pounds (approximately US $750,000 at the time) below which foreign contractors were not allowed to operate. For the most part this was successful and helpful but, as always, loopholes were found. It wasn't long before McAlpine & Son formed Exuma Services Ltd. in Georgetown and circumvented the Government-imposed limit, which then unofficially reached 3 million British Pounds (approximately US $9 million then).

In 1968, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) replaced the UBP Government and the country slowly moved toward an environment that made it more difficult for foreign contractors to get a foothold. The BCA, however, remained intact and continued to lobby for its members through various periods of activity and inactivity, depending on the situations to hand.

In 1992, the Free National Movement (FNM) became the Government of the day and took a new global economic position for the country, making it easier for direct foreign investment and introducing a more competitive climate into The Bahamian construction business. Incentives for foreign investors constructing multi-million dollar projects included sweeping duty-free concessions on imported materials and equipment and easier access to multiple work permits. It became increasingly difficult for local construction companies to submit a competitive bid, as their base costs on materials and labour were always higher than their foreign counterparts.

Additionally, history was seen to repeat itself as foreign contractors found loopholes in Bahamian law, allowing them to stay and seek fresh contracts after the completion of the original project. By the year 2000, the BCA publicly called foul and appealed to the Government for help, listing an uneven playing field as their greatest grievance when competing for jobs. The FNM Government of the day neither brought the two competing sides together, nor appeared to seek ways to counterbalance the concessions given to foreign companies. Two years later, in 2002, when the PLP was elected to form a new Government, the Bahamian construction industry was on its knees.

Unity and strength once more became the clarion call to arms and the BCA, revitalized and with a growing membership, immediately lobbied the new Government for an examination of the tenuous situation. As a result, concerned pertinent members of Government, including the Prime Minister, the Hon. Perry G. Christie, and the Minister for Trade & Industry, the Hon. Leslie O. Miller, are now working with the BCA and foreign project developers to develop a fair and equitable working environment for both legal foreign and Bahamian contractors and trades people.