NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The president of the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) is once again urging the government to appoint the Contractors Board, emphasizing the need for Bahamian contractors to be properly licensed to protect the billion-dollar construction sector.
Leonard Sands told Eyewitness News: “We have a group coming to the BCA from Florida for our next luncheon, looking to do a major development. They’re seeking a licensed contractor, but not one will be in the room because there’s no such thing as a licensed contractor in The Bahamas. I have to explain to them that while they’re used to dealing with licensed professionals, we don’t have licensed contractors here, but we can still handle their project.”
Sands continued: “A business license for construction is not the same as a professional license. Just as a doctor has a medical license, a contractor should have a professional license. It’s critical to understand the legal framework and the importance of licensing. It’s a legal requirement that helps protect this entire industry, which contributes almost $1.2 billion to our GDP. It’s alarming that the government doesn’t seem to appreciate the magnitude of this issue. We can’t even license contractors who are handling hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of work.”
Sands urged the government to fully implement the Construction Contractors Act, which would enable the appointment of the Contractors Board and allow Bahamian contractors to be properly licensed.
The Construction Contractors Bill was passed in 2016; however, the Contractors Board, which is essential for overseeing the licensing and certification of contractors according to their capabilities and specific scope of work, has yet to be appointed.
