Export Barbados has disclosed plans to build several new shared-use facilities for mechanics and autobody repair workers across the island, almost two years after opening its first such site.
Mark Hill, chief executive of Export Barbados (BIDC), told House of Assembly lawmakers that the agency plans to create additional commercial spaces to facilitate not only roadside mechanics but also autobody repair workers.
In a pilot programme in 2024, it opened a facility at Grazettes Industrial Estate as a model for constructing additional facilities across the island.
Hill told MPs that land was now being acquired for other such facilities in St Philip, Christ Church and in the north of the island.
“In addition to the mechanics’ bay at Grazettes, there’s a plan to expand that bay to also take into account persons who are spraying and doing body work within communities. So, in addition to the Grazettes bay, we have also earmarked a space, designs are complete, and we are hoping to accelerate the deployment of an additional bay in Six Roads, on three acres.
“Also, we are procuring a five-acre lot in Kendal in Christ Church, so that bay can serve more than just one parish. It’s going to be a very big facility. We’re in the process of identifying space. We thought that we had identified some space in the St Michael area, but subsequent to that, the space is no longer available, but we are working to further expand the St Michael needs.
“And in the north, we’re looking in that northern corridor to also have a mechanics’ bay in that area as well.”
The agency would also seek to address car storage, noting that this was a major issue for mechanics waiting for parts to arrive to complete repairs, he said.
“We’re looking at alternative stocking solutions, so that we can park cars vertically, to keep the bay and the footprint as small as possible. So, this, we understand, is a critical part of development.”
Hill highlighted that the current bay was used heavily during rally season and stressed that the need for such facilities was great.
“We are systematically seeking to meet that need with both designs that have been done in-house by internal designers, and also too working with external designers, but what we’re also doing is sitting down with the mechanics, getting their feedback on the design of the existing solution that we put on the table so we can continue to improve the experience for the mechanics.”
The post Export Barbados plans new mechanics bays across island appeared first on Barbados Today.
