Well-known contractor encourages hiring locals on projects after ‘pleasant surprise’
Co-owner of Autland Heavy Equipment Company Limited Dion Crabbe, is urging contractors to consider hiring locals to work at construction projects.
Crabbe made the call at a recent contract-signing ceremony where the Recovery & Development Agency awarded his company a $2,208,098.48 contract for rehabilitation works to the Long Bush water system.
“More of the contractors need to consider using some of the local guys that are here, instead of just passing them on the side because you really don’t know what you are going to get,” he said.
Surprised by work from locals
Crabbe’s sentiments follow rehabilitative works his company executed on the Carrot Bay water system. At the time of being awarded that contract, he had promised Premier Andrew Fahie that he would employ locals from within the First District community to work on the project.
After hiring a few locals for the project as was promised, Crabbe said he was astonished by the work ethic displayed by the young locals.
“As BVIslanders sometimes we tend to look past our counterparts, the people from the BVI because of the stigma that has already been created based on how they look, what they do, how they hang out. But I would say that we have started the Carrot Bay project and I was pleasantly surprised by the individuals that we engaged from the Carrot Bay area.”
“If I had seen these men on the road, I wouldn’t have considered putting them up there (on the project), but those guys have done an excellent job. Something as simple as bringing their own tool on site we take for granted. I’m extremely impressed with what’s happened so far,” he added.
Autland mentoring young professionals
Crabbe further said Autland intends to engage and employ more locals throughout the various districts on several of their future projects.
He said it is part of his company’s goal to build capacity within the BVI, which will go a long way in helping the territory to continue to advance and develop.
“We actually have a mentoring programme in place with younger contractors, so you would be seeing more individuals getting involved with our projects because we do understand capacity is an issue in the BVI, we are only so big,” the contractor said.
“It’s in our best interest to partner with more locals and individuals so that in the future when you have a very big project, instead of outsourcing, we can actually team up and participate together in being awarded certain contracts,” Crabbe further explained.
The unemployment rate in the BVI has risen since the advent of COVID-19. At least 767 persons in the territory have been laid off so far. Another 165 persons have been terminated, the Labour Department has reported.
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Go D!. I agree with you. Invest in helping to build others which in turn helps with the development and grow of the country. We never know what positive impact we might have on others by just giving them a try. It might just be the beginning to something great for them.
good, welcomed and needed change of perpective. Keep improving upon. He who feels included in the process, and feels respected and wanted will demonstrate such to the success of the process.
Wouldn’t it be great if this a turning point. Turning up on time, with tools and ready to work and then working with skill. VI can move forward.
That man just talking, ain’t doing nothing for the locals
FIRST CLEAR ADMISSION that local Business Owners have be telling LIES , CHOOSING to hire outsiders over BVI nationals , Submitting false info to the labour department in order to secure Aforementioned expat labour force , and on,,,, and on.
I thought it was a numbers game all this time. The higher the monkey climbs….
FIRST CLEAR ADMISSION- rationale and gesture notwithstanding
Stop fooling people .?
I’m in complete agreement with you Dion! guess who created that stigma though?! it surely wasn’t the locals
I hear this all the time in my hiring “man don’t hire them locals they lazy ad don’t want to work, here me i’ll work for so and so amount” and Guess what we tend to fall for it us(myself included)
I’ve hired both, watched the differences and see that many of the same “expats who say don’t hire them lazy locals are worse than the locals.
Not saying that its the case all the time, however the stigma was created not by locals.
Hmmmm. You are that easily brainwashed and could not see through the expats who told you those things. Shame on you!
I too have hired both and I could tell you. The expats stretch work. something that can be done in three days will take six on their watch. You get what you pay for.
You should be ashamed of yourself for writing this. You disenfranchised locals for people who write their own references. Then the expats say that BVI belongers talk bad about them. Fhupes…
What trickery to get more contracts. Vip administration the dumbest no joke.
Smile smile smile away to the crabbe lot. No no the brothel. I mean the bank. ?
Crabbe is accustom to give lip service. That’s his best skill. Not construction.
Couple sweet words and a contract secured, that guy is a c***k
Squeezes locals too with fake smile
This is why I keep on saying expatriates should leave bvi the talent is here if only we were given a chance a longtime ago
Why should they leave? How will the mortgages get paid. Who will rent the apartments? Who will keep the supermarkets in business when you all shop in st and PR. How will the taxi men service? Weigh the pros n the cons before you write. Blatant nonsense. Just a little grease of the palm n sweet talk and you are ready to crucify expats.
Answer this have you being to America are any of your relative live and work in another company are even go to school in another country, no man is an island no man stand alone
Real talk he saying that but when the bvilanders go to h– h- turn them down.
Move your p—ous a–. You just talking
Only we locals must eat we sar…..as a virgin Islander I am tell you ,that sets of selfish worthless attitude towards another isn’t good and must stop ,,,if you have it in mind that’s not the platforms for it because you do have some every good expats working for you who helps your company to Excel are have you guys get so big now that you all forget, stop being so badminded.
We do have some local youths who are willing and ready to do dirty work! I know of some…they enjoyed the work (even though the sun was hot, hot). On the job they felt valued – monetarily and otherwise.
Contractors, make them feel a part of and you will be amazed!
Well known for not paying — bills