The 13-year monopoly held by foreign stripers will be lifted.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development Philip Davis has assured local striping companies that they would “soon be an integral part of completing road projects.”

“I can see for myself,” Minister Davis said while visiting Bahamas Striping as it completed the Eastern and Johnson Roads junction. “There is no need to import or use foreign labour or foreign striping companies to do road striping.”

“We have to believe in these young Bahamians—that they can do the work. They’ve demonstrated that they can and we’ll now ensure that the works will be with them.”

Only two years old, Bahamas Striping has employed and trained 13 young Bahamians.

“I am extremely impressed with the manner in which these young Bahamians are executing the works here at this junction,” the minister said.

“We have Atario Mitchell and other Bahamian companies and that’s what we’ll be insisting on, that we need to use these young men…they will be given the opportunity.”

Despite securing parking lot and private road striping from private contractors, Bahamas Striping and other Bahamian stripers have been blocked from striping public roads.

The company invested in tens of thousands of dollars worth of thermoplastic equipment and in training its crew, only to be denied work given to foreigners.

Sean Adderley, Managing Director of Bahamas Striping, says the company hopes to take its training program to empower young men in other islands such as Eleuthera, Cat Island, Abaco, around MICAL, or anywhere where employment is desperately needed.