Jamaicans to local contractors: Unnuh too teef n lazy nobody nuh want unnuh

In a recent report by TVJ News, local contractors in western parishes of Jamaica have expressed their grievances regarding being overlooked in favor of foreign workers in the booming construction sector. Contractors based in Negril, Westmoreland, and Hanover have voiced their concerns about losing out on opportunities to overseas workers, leading to a significant loss of revenue.

The contractors are urging the Labour Minister and other stakeholders to address this issue and provide support. Sherman Glen, a subcontractor from Hanover, highlighted the ongoing trend of foreign workers dominating the industry for the past 18 to 20 years. Despite being qualified and certified, Jamaican workers are finding it challenging to secure jobs.

However, the sentiment among the Jamaican public is one of dissatisfaction with local contractors. Comments on the report indicate a widespread belief that Jamaican contractors and tradesmen are not fulfilling their responsibilities effectively, leading to a lack of trust and confidence in their work.

The disparity between local and foreign workers in the construction sector raises concerns about fair employment practices and the need for intervention to support local contractors and ensure equitable opportunities for all workers in Jamaica.

However, the sentiment among the Jamaican public appears to be largely negative towards local contractors. In the comments section of the report, 99% of Jamaicans expressed pessimism towards the local workforce, citing concerns about potential abuse of trade by Jamaican contractors and tradesmen.

One person wrote, “If y’all were doing proper work this wouldn’t reach uno. How can you be giving scrappy work to your own country 🙄”

Another person wrote, “Unnuh too teef n lazy nobody nuh want unnuh.”

Dwaynefunlife wrote, “Jamaica contractors rob their own ppl for years and ppl tired of it. Then their work ethics are poor, they show up when they feel like and never finish anything on time. You have to be chasing dem down to complete your work after you pay them. So yes, I am glad they getting competition, hopefully they get their act together so people can hire them. They had decades to correct their bad reputation and they didn’t.”

In 2019 article by the gleaner headline, “Corruption’ label crippling local contractors“

The article states that Jamaican construction firms are prejudicially labelled as corrupt and inept when their projects are hit by cost overruns and delays, but government and other stakeholders give foreign contractors a free pass for failure, a construction expert has charged.

Michael Archer said that foreign firms do not face the same level of scrutiny in project implementation as Chinese firms, many of which have gobbled up government and private-sector contracts to build highways, bridges, and high-rises. Archer claim that local players have been wearing the tag of corruption unfairly for too long and foreign contractors do miss deadline as well with rising cost but with less scrutiny.

But the comment section on the TVJ report paints a different picture. Many Jamaicans said they had very bad experiences with local contractors believe using foreign workers are a better option.

The comment section revealed contrasting views on the use of local and foreign workers in the Jamaican construction industry. Jamaicans shared negative experiences with local contractors, and expressed a preference for foreign workers due to what they see as efficient, working hard and sticking to deadlines.

empress_ren stated that “most trade man in Jamaica work on dem own time and are very rude and don’t complete the work properly. Also the outsource workers are not even being paid correctly as well so what’s the problem. I’m planning to fly in my workers to complete a job as well because it Jamaica trade man are a joke and cuss you when you ask when the job will be completed…I don’t wrong the hotel dem…we have deadlines to meet and unnu want free money smh.”

housen.andre wrote, “Chinese done the work with no money rob up.”

Another person wrote, “Uno love too much short cut and don’t get shit done now uno a cry when others doing it move up.”

adorable876 wrote, “A good.. Y’all are unprofessional and teef nuh rawse… Unuh rob di poor labourer dem and pocket all a di money. Mi h@te unuh bad and unuh nuh have good work ethics eeda… Unuh use other ppl money to cover a next man work after unuh done floss and gyal out ppl money . every rum bar and gogo club know unuh..”

shequa_nykels said “Some a unnu tradesmen too damn laaazy AND love do cobbler work… Some a yall make it look bad for the few good tradesmen.”

king_joah_elite “Overseas workers work on a time frame to get the job done and a certain time that’s the difference.”

thashortbabe “Caaz unu teef up d money n no finish the work.”
tendertouchtayann wrote, “When uno get the job uno thief the material and do poor work and work when uno feel like it. I don’t feel sorry for rhem..”

altheadolly “To be honest most Jamaicans who have had to build any thing have not had any good experiences with you guys…. Shoddy work, incomplete work, overruns, delays, to name a few. Improve your game and get back in the game.”

selffirst.othersafter: “Bcus the local tradesmen nuh work like dem care…yuh affi a beggg them to do your work!”

wahdepre “Bring the foreigners. If it was up to me a Jamaican wouldn’t touch not even a pothole to repair a damn road.”

joemedz simply wrote, “Uno too ginal.”

jaytee1garrison: If unuh never so thief and a tek weh material and no work den di overseas workers wouldn’t be here eating unuh food….. unuh fi feel it more den unuh understand seh robbing unuh own country mek unuh end up nah nuh work now.

youngsehon: Not short, but very unprofessional trade man. Want smoke and rum drinking break and expect to be paid for a full days work.

kameratrix: “It’s a free market …Integrity, Quality of work, professionalism… simply getting the job done…that’s why people outsource… If you give quality work , on time and leave out the ‘ ginalship ‘ and lack of communication, then you’ll get the work…building in Jamaica is always a nightmare, you’re lucky when you find a good contractor!!!”

 Local Jamaican contractors have been facing overwhelming negative feedback for many many years, indicating a need for change in their operations to compete with foreign contractors. Instead of blaming businesses and government, the challenges encountered by local contractors in Jamaica suggests there is a need for strategies and improvement in how they do business in order to enhance their competitiveness in the construction industry.