Aluma
Normerica
Davies Associates
Marenco Marine
Kozaily Designs
MKS International
SEL Consulting
Cavalier Construction Q&A
Cavalier Construction is one of the leading construction companies in the Bahamas. CC’s Marie Smit interviews Managing Director, Mr. Richard Wilson, a former pro-footballer that first came to the Caribbean with construction giant McAlpine back in 1967 and joined Cavalier in 1973.

CC: Cavalier has been in business since 1956 and still considered to be one of the best – what is the secret to your success?
RW: We consider ourselves a very responsible contractor and have a good track record. A few years ago I bought out my two older partners and offered shares to middle management in order to inject new life into the business. At Cavalier it is all about integrity and quality. If the quality is there customers will return and refer. We have built more hotels in the Bahamas than anyone else.

CC: What is the extent of Cavalier’s involvement with the Albany project in Western New Providence?
RW: We will be working on the waterfront, beachfront villas and amenities over two years. We are also one of three approved builders working on the residences over a seven year period.

CC: Cavalier completed the Convention Centre at Atlantis in 2007, the largest in the Caribbean. What were the major challenges and how were they overcome?
RW: Construction of the Convention Centre lasted 19 months and was completed in April 2007. The major challenge was building the structure to support a 180ft clear span. As with everything at Atlantis the finishes are spectacular, very detailed and up market. The contract was just shy of $60 million.

CC: Are there any specific building methods preferred by or even unique to Cavalier?
RW: Cavalier use a wide spectrum of building methods, usually concrete blocks. We were the first company in the Bahamas to use post-tensioning and the first to bring in modular construction.

CC: In a market with a limited labour pool and poor education, how does Cavalier cope with its talent requirements?
RW: There is a lot of development going on in the Bahamas but not enough training to support it. We also find that today’s youth is not very interested in laying bricks or manual labour and as a result people are required to grow their own talent. We have been lucky in that we’ve managed to keep some of the older people and also trained many. Usually when there are 2 large contracts ongoing at the same time, the labour has to be imported.

CC: What has the knock-on effect of the US economic downturn been in the Bahamas?
RW: I think builders are definitely feeling the pinch as far as the cost of materials is concerned. There has been a noticeable fall-off in construction, especially second homes.

CC: How is Cavalier coping with the fall-off in Construction?
RW: Like everybody else we are struggling a bit. We are looking for work but also waiting to see if the Albany project moves full steam ahead.

CC: Do you have any plans to further expand the business into other islands?
RW: We have done work in Jamaica, Cayman, and Turks & Caicos and have been asked to work on a variety of Caribbean islands, but we’ve always had enough to keep us occupied in the Bahamas.

CC: Could you tell us more about Bobcat (Bahamas) Limited?
Steve D’Alewyn (Cavalier Financial Controller) on behalf of RW: Bobcat (Bahamas) Limited was formed in 2001 and undertakes the sale and rental of construction and agricultural equipment. It also sells standby generator sets. The company maintains a repairs and services centre and a parts outlet to support its products. The company deals extensively with Bahamian government departments notably Bahamas Electricity Corporation (“BEC”), the Water and Sewerage Corporation, the Department of Environmental Health, the Department of Civil Aviation and the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation (“Batelco”). Bobcat Bahamas employs approximately 25 staff who are entirely Bahamian.

Bobcat’s rental and other divisions support Cavalier Construction’s activities in the field by supplying modern and reliable equipment to facilitate delivery of its projects within agreed schedules.

Bobcat’s recent sales performance was $4.5m in 2007 and $4.8m in 2006.

CC: What is Cavalier working on over the next 2 years?
Steve D’Alewyn on behalf of RW: Whilst we do not have a crystal ball to assess the projects Cavalier will be working on, we can safely say that our primary focus will be the Albany project for the next two years or more. We are also currently undertaking renovations to the Hilton British Colonial in downtown Nassau (anticipated completion April 2009). We are completing the third and final phase of a condominium development (“Bayroc”) on West Bay street (targeted completion February 2009) as well as re-development of a tourist complex on Bay Street involving shops and restaurants (“Elizabeth on the Bay”) which is targeted for completion in May 2009.