NASSAU, The Bahamas – Bahamas Labour and Social Development Minister the Hon. Dion Foulkes assured Bahamians that opportunities for employment in the construction, hotel and financial services industries would be offered to them first.
Minister Foulkes along with the Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Development the Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner met with representatives of the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development in the Main Post Office Building, East Hill Street, Wednesday, December 17 primarily to discuss the development of major governmental projects in The Bahamas and the process for the issuance of work permits for these projects.
“We in the Department of Labour are committed to ensuring that wherever there are jobs in The Bahamas whether it is in the construction industry, the hotel industry, financial services, that Bahamians get the first opportunity to get those jobs,” said Minister Foulkes.
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“We encourage Bahamians to register with the Labour Exchange and with our Skills Bank so that we know who is out there, what type of experiences you have and what qualifications you have so that when the Labour Board and the Immigration Board meet we can make our intervention and ensure that Bahamians get first pick at all the jobs in our country,” Minister Foulkes added.</p>
<p>He said the government has embarked on a massive infrastructural crusade including the New Providence Road Improvement Project; phase one of the Lynden Pindling International Airport, the beautification programme in New Providence and Grand Bahama, the construction of sidewalks and administration buildings and the housing programme. These projects, he said, would create over 3,100 new jobs for Bahamians and urged BCA officials to advise their members to take full advantage of these opportunities.</p>
<p>Asked to comment on what the infrastructural projects say about the economy of the nation, Minister Foulkes replied, “We are very fortunate in The Bahamas in that we have a very strong economy. Over the years we have been very frugal in terms of how we spend the people’s money. So we are in a better position than most countries in this region to continue our infrastructural and stimulus package.</p>
<p>“A lot of countries are actually cancelling a lot of projects that they have on the drawing board because they simply cannot afford to go on and they do not have the international ratings that we have to borrow money. So The Bahamas is very fortunate and we think that during these difficult times we will pull through and that most Bahamians will be able to find gainful employment,” he added.</p>
<p>Minister Butler-Turner said as a result of the job opportunities, she foresees a decline in the requests for social assistance from the Ministry of Labour and Social Development.</p>
<p>She reminded Bahamians to be mindful of how they spend their resources. “Even though the government is introducing this very aggressive stimulus this is not something that we should just take for granted.</p>
<p>“Individuals need to learn to budget their funds so that they are able to make sure that the resources they do generate for themselves are put to the best possible usage such as shelter, clothing and food,” she said.</p>
<p>BCA President Stephen Wrinkle said it is an integral part of the association’s mission to ensure that they have a proactive relationship with the relevant ministries throughout the government.</p>
<p>“Towards this end we have been meeting with the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Immigration and now the Ministry of Labour and Social Development in an effort to interface better the private sector with the government’s endeavours.</p>
<p>“With this in mind we are hopeful that when these projects do come on line that we will be in a better position and that qualified Bahamian contractors have a seat at the ‘big’ table and are provided with an equal opportunity to tender the works,” said Wrinkle.</p>
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