Kerzner International Development Ltd. To Join BCA

Kerzner International Development Ltd. plans to join the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) and help the Association develop a contractors' licensing programme to ensure and promote international quality standards in all construction trades in The Bahamas.

In a recent meeting that took place on Paradise Island, Rick Bodge, Sr. Vice President of Kerzner International Development Limited told BCA officials that he thought their goal to put in place a government sanctioned licensing programme for contractors would provide developers with a good resource and save them a lot of effort in finding qualified Bahamian contractors.

"It would be great to be able to go to a licensing bureau and say "give me a list" and not have to go through pre-qualifying. It would make the process much easier�We will join this organization. Once a month or once a quarter we can sit down and see how we can pull this programme together. You set the pace and we'll be a part of it," Mr. Bodge told BCA Chairman Terrance Knowles after he was informed of efforts already in progress by the BCA to develop the licensing programme.

Also discussed in the meeting was the participation of Bahamian contractors in Kerzner's current projects which include The Marina Village at Atlantis, Harborside and Atlantis Phase III. Mr. Bodge said $13 million and $2,475,000 worth of work was awarded to Bahamian contractors for the Marina Village and Phase III respectively. According to Mr. Bodge Bahamians comprised 85% of the 930 tradesmen working on these projects including those in administrative positions. In addition the $38 million Harborside contract was awarded to the joint venture of Osprey and Woslee Dominion Construction Company.

Mr. Bodge said the Marina Village has provided a good match for Bahamian contractors between capabilities and scope of work and many contractors have been performing well. He noted, however, that there have been some issues with smaller contractors at the Marina Village and cases where Kerzner has had to take over or supplement the work in order to finish a project.

"We're getting those sorted out, he said.

Ian Stewart, Project Executive for PCL Constructors, the construction managers hired by Kerzner International for Atlantis Phase III said the team is trying to get the packages out to as many contractors as possible. "We have a rigorous pre-qualifying process. There are a lot of contractors in our system and we don't want to put anyone in a situation where they bite off more than they can chew," he said.

The Bahamian Contractors Association was formed in 1960 to give legitimacy to the industry and serve as a voice for the industry. Today BCA membership has grown to over 70 contractors from all trades and represents all contractors from the smallest plumber to the largest general contractor. No contractor is too small to be a member.

(March 22, 2005)