Small contractors are demanding a bigger slice of the construction industry pie.They charge that preferential treatment and unequal opportunities in Government housing projects were major stumbling blocks for small, black-owned businesses.“I don’t think the pie is being shared Government-wise. You get a taste . . . but not a big piece of the pie. We would like more,” said chairman of the supervisory/oversight committee of the Barbados Contractors & Artisans Co-operative Society Samantha Bettancourt-Layne.During a press conference on Thursday in Warrens, St Michael, Bettancourt-Layne said the cooperative had the wherewithal to undertake major projects with over 200 skilled and experienced workers.“The point is that there is enough resources, manpower, machinery and expertise to go forward. We have land surveyors on board, we have quantity surveyors, there is no issue with human resources. All we need is land and a partnership with the Government [or the] private sector.”
