Contractors meet in CSME session

The need for local contractors to become more equipped for the regional market was one of the key reasons for a special session between them and representatives of the Basic Needs Trust Fund.{{more}}

This revelation was made by chairman of the BNTF and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Transformation Nathaniel Williams, on Wednesday morning at the Service Commissions conference room in Kingstown.

Williams said that the introduction of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) now requires that persons seeking local or regional contracts must not only have the required skills or resources to perform a particular job, but also the code of ethics and standards that are accepted within the region.

“Simply being a good worker may have worked well in the past, but today we have to go beyond being simply good and blend our skills with those areas which are demanded within the current environment in which we operate.”

Williams also noted that contractors are usually prevented from doing complete and excellent jobs because they do not have complementary expertise to guide them on projects.

“We note sometimes that some contractors are very good workers, but do not have the use of the likes of quantity surveyors, industrial engineers and other types of expertise that go along with better performances.”

“Your skill is no longer matched against operators within your own market but it is competitive with the rest of the region.”

At Wednesday’s session, the contractors also received tips on how to prepare and submit better bids for contracts, tendering with VAT, types of bids as well as materials and workmanship specifications.

Faciltators of the one-day event included Harold Lewis of the VAT office, Christine Christopher, Carlyle Glean and Aurin Bennett.

The BNTF is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. (JJ)