UPDATE: Small contractors urged to come together to bid for Govt contracts
This was told to a group of contractors who completed a one-week training programme in Computerised Job Estimation Tool (CJET) on August 2, 2013. The group was said to be targeted for contracts for the completion of the East End/Long Look and Road Town Sewerage Projects.
“From a contractors’ point of view, how are we going to find the persons who can bid on contracts to take the main sewerage line from Chapel Hill in East End to right out here in Paraquita Bay to the sewerage plant that we will be building?” Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool asked rhetorically.
“Are we going to give out twenty thousand dollar contracts for every 200 feet or are we going to hope and expect that many of you who are here today will join together and bid on these contracts so that government would get a better bang for its buck?” Hon. Vanterpool continued.
The minister said government is expecting to see the many local contractors joining together and bidding for the anticipated $300M budgeted by government. “We are talking about real jobs and real contracts that we hope to put out there to boost the economy, to be able to accomplish what we want to accomplish in developing and building the infrastructure of the territory.”
He also encouraged the contractors to bid on contracts that are currently out for the pipelines in Road Town. “As a legacy for me, once I am kicked out in the next two and a half years, that I can leave behind a better road network in the territory.”
Hon. Vanterpool, the Fourth District Representative and government minister, said he was not in agreement with the system of taking monies out of government’s coffers to do patch work to potholes around the territory but would rather see the monies invested in a better system that would see the roads being upgraded and improved.
See previous article posted August 2, 2013
CJET workshop participants charged to stay in the cutting edge
-32 participants from across territory graduate from one week training
The 32 participants who completed a one-week training programme in Computerised Job Estimation Tool (CJET) were today, August 2, 2013 charged to ensure that they stay in the cutting edge of the business market by Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool.
The charge was made earlier today at a simple closing ceremony at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) Marine Centre at Paraquita Bay. “As with any profession, if you do not stay current, if you do not upgrade your skills, if you don’t remain on the competitive edge, in every aspect, you may find yourself going out of business,” said the Hon. Minister.
Acknowledging that the construction industry has not been very vibrant as it should be, he said it is extremely crucial for artisans and small contractors to improve their skill. “I am sure that you would now agree that you made the right decision in choosing to attend this workshop,” said Hon. Vanterpool.
He further challenged the participants to do whatever is necessary to stay in the game. “We want you as artisans and small contractors to benefit from Government’s infrastructure development. Whether you are awarded a contract or you find yourself having to secure a daily job, you must position yourself to take advantage of the shifting paradigm.”
The training was sponsored by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) as their commitment to helping to enhance the competitiveness of small contractors and artisans in the Virgin Islands (VI).
The Bank’s specialised agency - the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services (CTCS) Network- in collaboration with the HLCC, hosted the workshop. Dean of Work Force Training at HLSCC, Dr. Derry Hodge explained that the workshop is a part of the overall programme being embarked upon by the Bank within the Virgin Islands.
Vice President of HLSCC, Dr Bryan Penn also expressed the view that participants were able to drill down to a considerable depth, by dissecting the many and varied dimensions of job estimation. “You are now in an even better position to account for even the inputs and through-puts related to both the job as a whole and its various segmented parts as well,” Dr Penn said.
Among the 32 participants who received certificates at the conclusion of the workshop, two were females. Participants were pulled together from across the territory, including the sister islands.
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