By LEDEDRA MARCHE

Senior FN Reporter

lededra@nasguard.com

Despite a horrid two previous years from three devastating hurricanes, Grand Bahama is experiencing a burst of construction activity from low cost homes to million-dollar business investments.

Of note is the large undertaking in the new Sunset subdivision in the area known as "the back of town," where dozens of homes are being constructed.

Next, there is the massive yellow building being constructed on Milton and Grenville Streets, which is inclusive of 6,000 square feet of office space and 13,000 square feet of space for a manufacturing facility.

The building has been under construction for several months and is the future home of Paradox Security Systems, a Canadian-based manufacturing company, says Mark Festing, representative for the owners.

The Home Centre's new $5 million Super Store on West Atlantic Drive, still under construction by H. & F. Babak Construction Company, is expected to open this spring, and shows the faith the owners have in the island's economy.

Granville Lewis, the proprietor of Arawak Construction, operates a truss company and says business is pretty good, compared to last year.

"Since the hurricane last year this is the best that it was," he said.

Despite the fact that there are three other companies in the same business, he says he has no complaints.

He supplies trusses for homes and businesses, but mostly individual companies.

The contractor is cognizant, though, that sometimes when the climate is good for one, it doesn't mean it is profitable for the next man.

While business has been good, Mr. Lewis is still hoping it gets better.

At Grand Bahama Tiles, a retail and sales operation, business is slow when it comes to installation, and sales are said to be slow to moderate.

But that sort of activity is expected around this time of the year. As the summer months approach, the company expects business will get better.

As for the island's economy, the female operator says it doesn't look hopeful, but adds that Grand Bahama's economy is not very predictable.

She is quick to point out that construction is one of the things that seems to be consistent.

"Some way it holds its own," she said, noting that she expects business will pick up later in the year.

One female contractor of a major construction company pointed out the downside of the business, citing work by unscrupulous contractors which the reputable businesses have to clean up after when the home owners decide to turn to them.

"The work is out there, but people try to do their own thing and they're giving it to the little contractors for less and in the long run they end up paying for the headache," she said. "There's nothing happening right now. but for how much it costs to break down the work, they might as well had given it to the big construction company one time."

For Willis Bain, owner of B. & H. Construction, "things are pretty good. I'm blessed."

While he couldn't speak for the others, he does know some are crying now, like he was last year.

Now, he has several projects under way in West End.

Mr. Bain is greatful for the projects he has on stream now and attributes his upswing wholeheartedly to God's blessings on his life.

"I believe things are going to get better once things get started with The Ginn project in West End," he said.

Ginn's $3.7 billion development in West End involves a mega mix resort on inclusive of 4,400 condominium hotel units next to Old Bahama Bay, 870 single family residential home sites, a private airport, casino, swimming pools and water park facilities.

It also includes two championship golf-courses and clubhouses, two large marinas, tennis complexes, beach clubs, and spas and is expected to take place over a 20-year period.

Mr. Bain says that one sure way that will boost the construction climate in Grand Bahama would be the involvement of local contractors in the construction work on the West End project.

"They need to give the local people a chance. Once they do that, everything will work out fine for the economy," he said, pointing out, however, that when foreign contractors are brought in to do the work the money is taken back out of the country.

But local contractors, he insists, will keep the money here.

BIG CONSTRUCTION — Construction of this huge yellow building is under way at the intersection of Grenville and Milton Streets. It is expected to be the home of Paradox Security Systems, a Canadian-based manufacturing company. (Photo by Angelo armbrister)