Singled out as the most impressive business of 2023, The Bahamas Striping Group of Companies (BSGC) has won the first Jones Communications Network (JCN) "Business of the Year Civil Society award." Simultaneously, Sir Franklyn Wilson won the 23rd annual JCN “Person of the Year” award.

Christian Jones, JCN Spokesman said that BSGC stood out as a beacon of empowerment and investment within the Bahamian business landscape, exemplifying a commitment to fostering economic growth and sustainability with public and private partnerships.

“We are most appreciative of the nomination and win, especially as this is the first time they’ve had this award category,” said Senior Vice President Dominique Sturrup. “Our work goals and objectives reached are not to win awards but to give back to our country, however, we do appreciate this one.

“We believe our company has a simple philosophy - ‘Open hands’ which means keep your hands open – money comes in and money comes out, as you give, you receive. We like to give back in meaningful ways to the community. Last year we held a swim programme at Fox Hill Community Centre where we taught 300 kids ages 4 to 14 how to swim. And for Thanksgiving, our ‘Let’s Make a Difference’ outreach provided our 5th feeding initiative by providing 10,320 meals to 7 different islands simultaneously with logistical help from The Bahamas Feeding Network and many generous sponsors. And this year, we will repeat our 2 ‘Let’s Make a Difference’ community benefit programmes.

This year is the 15th anniversary for BSGC founders Atario Mitchell and Dominique Mitchell who launched the company in 2010 on a wing and a prayer, a $5,000 dollar government grant and a vision and passion to develop their assessment of much-needed quality island infrastructure.

“We started with a government contract to provide road markings for traffic safety on New Providence and some of the Family Islands,” explained BSGC president, Atario Mitchell. “We proved ourselves professional on all requisite job specs and business levels and the government was able to look favourably on our bids for further listed infrastructure projects.”

With a successful project under their belt and an expanding fruitful government relationship, BGSC sought private financing to expand their business model. Expansion came with the forming of a private-public partnership (PPP) with Sygnus Capital Limited of Jamaica which would provide up-front capital to finance BSGC’s government projects to be repaid by the government over a 2 to 5-year period. To date, BGSC has managed to access $200 million from local, regional, and international capital markets and private lenders to fund ever-increasing crucial infrastructural projects in The Bahamas, bringing new business opportunities, employment, and a buoyant financial outlook for the islands where BGSC contractual work is executed.

The PPP projects to date with Sygnus include the $9M rebuild of the Eight-Mile Rock West End government complex and $25M for the 45-mile Exuma highway improvement project to include repair to seawalls and rain and flood drainage wells, to be completed this year.

“Currently we are focused on the new PPP infrastructure project starting in February in support of the Central and South Eleuthera water main and 76 miles of settlement-serving roads that connect to the remaining 90 miles. Also, work continues on the Nassau Village Community Centre on New Providence which is up and running but still a work in progress,” said Dominique Sturrup. He said that on each project where feasible, we insist that most of the workers hired live in the area.

Company president, Atario Mitchell, said that their company mission is to build a better Bahamas through humanitarian-based work ethic and discipline. “Vital to the success of each project and underlining our business objectives is to outsource the work to local area companies.

“Everything we do is with community betterment in mind and what better way than job creation and skills training opportunities? For instance, we believe that jobs for the younger generation may well help reduce the crime rate.

“For the major asphalt 76-mile Roads Redevelopment Project in Eleuthera, we’ve contracted with Nu View Construction and Quick Fix Construction. This provides local jobs with the local firms and ensures millions of dollars stay in Eleuthera. This is true for the Nassau Village Community Centre where we’ve contracted with 17 local businesses.”

This inclusive community initiative, common to all BSCG projects, was commended by a government minister in June 2023 at the Eleuthera Road announcement.

“Today marks the beginning of a concerted effort to ensure that Central and South Eleuthera has the basic utilities needed to maintain and support a healthy economy.” The Minister noted that since September of 2022, the government had been working successfully with the BSGC to establish another PPP as in Exuma, and also to execute affiliated works to improve local communities. Speaking of the contracted local companies, the Minister said, “In Eleuthera, we anticipate an abundance of direct employment opportunities, the addition of new business entrepreneurs, and the growth of current ones because of this project.”

Senior VP Dominique Sturrup said that last year they invited and hosted the Sygnus Capital Limited president and took him to Exuma. “We felt it important he sees where his $25 million is going. I wanted him to know, believe, and see that 100% of his funding goes to the project. That he sees for himself the road project, the 47 employees, the community that the completed road will serve, and that will help boost prosperity and quality of life.”

Mr. Sturrup said the visit had created more credibility for BSCG as now local financial companies were coming forward with business inquiries. “This is how it should be because local investments directly benefit our economy here.”

Mr. Sturrup added that the PPP legal process is rigorous, and they abide by it to the letter.

“We have project managers, and detailed legal contracts with penalties that every subcontractor signs, which include time limits and project milestones. The project goal is to get it done on time and to budget. So, you don’t want to see change orders. We do strict due diligence on the contractors. They have a project manager on site as do we to ensure everything goes according to the contract. PPPs are all about time and cost. Discipline and supervision are needed, can’t take your eye off the ball.”