Turks & Caicos Islands’ once booming construction industry – one of the country’s economic linchpins – is on the road to recovery. That’s the word from leading Provo architects who have reported a “dramatic” upsurge in enquiries from developers.The sector has long been one of the largest employers in the Islands but took a nosedive amid the recession and political upheaval.Architects, who are the first to be approached about forthcoming schemes, told the Weekly News they were now experiencing a hike in work.Simon Wood, of SWA Architects in Grace Bay, said: “We feel the move a year or two before the construction industry and things are certainly picking up.“In the last few months, the phone has started ringing again.“We have had a lot of enquiries for residences and started a few new projects.“We have been working on a number of leads for larger projects too, including condos and a hotel.”Mr Wood said he anticipated construction would start to pick up by the middle of the year.It’s a welcome shift from the deadly quiet which, he said, began in 2007.“As architects we had two years of nothing, which means two years of nothing in the construction industry.“It’s not by any means back where it was and I don’t think it ever will be but development was happening too fast before. We are now getting about 40 per cent the number of enquiries we were receiving in recent years.”He added: “We are very hopeful and looking forward to a positive 2011.”SWA, in operation since 1995, is currently working on a handful of private residential developments in Providenciales and North Caicos and is in discussions regarding the forthcoming Hyatt hotel.In June last year the hotel giant announced it had signed a deal to manage a vast 170-unit resort on Cooper Jack Bay.The 21-acre site will include restaurants, pool, spa and fitness centre when it throws open its doors in 2014, bringing with it much needed revenue and jobs.Ron Shaw, of RA Shaw Designs in Leeward Highway, said his company had seen a 10-fold jump in enquiries compared to January 2010.“It’s dramatic.“A lot of it is still conceptual work but if it turns into drawings then it will certainly be a welcome relief.“The last 24 months have been a struggle. If half the work we have on the table now comes to fruition we will be busy through 2011. If it all comes through, it will be out of control.”RA Shaw Designs has been operating in the Islands since 1998 with a niche market in single family residences.In the fiscal heyday of recent years, he said the firm was forced to turn work away.Mr Shaw continued that he expected to soon see an upswing in employment opportunities.He revealed that the firm is currently working on designs for two small resorts.“It will be a slow start over the next three months but we hope by late spring, early summer, we will see things moving into the ground.”Fellow architect Oliver Stubbs also predicted “major improvements” were ahead.“Things are picking up, I have a couple of projects on the table right now,” he told the Weekly News.Mr Stubbs said political instability and the seemingly lackadaisical pace of administering justice to corruption-accused former Ministers were prompting some scepticism among potential developers.“Once the prosecutions start and they start doing what they have to do, we will see more things happen.”At a Chamber of Commerce meeting in December, members spoke of a “very challenging” year and offered ideas to revitalise and reform the lucrative construction industry.Among those making headway is lawyer turned developer Beryn Duncanson, behind the recently completed $30m Flamingo Crossing affordable condo scheme. Mr Duncanson spotted a niche in rent-to-own contracts, a lure for cash-strapped buyers.Other members said it was vital to reestablish the Contractors Association to help regulate the sector.We reported in November that the TCI’s real estate market was also starting to see an upturn.ReMax Elite broker Simon Padgett said “green roots of a recovery” were starting to sprout, in part due to the strength of the Canadian dollar.
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By Gemma Handy
Turks & Caicos Weekly News