Courthouse cleaning contract provides work for jobless Bermudians

THURSDAY, FEB. 9: A former bank worker is set to clean up at Hamilton’s court complex.

Cathy-Ann Symons has been awarded the contract to keep the new Dame Lois Browne Evans Building spick and span as part of a Government drive to get jobless Bermudians back to work.

Ms Symons said she had been looking for a job since she was made redundant from the post of customer services agent at HSBC two years ago.

She added: “It was a shock – I’ve been trying to find work ever since. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The contract, which will give two to three people on the unemployment register new jobs, is expected to start around April.

The contract was announced at the court building by Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Patrice Minors today.

She said the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) had managed the tendering process and identified prospective bidders for the cleaning contract.

The BEDC worked with the Small Business Construction Incubator and Small Jobs Works programmes to match the contract to potential contractors.

Ms Minors added: “Ms Symons will be supported by the BEDC throughout this process by providing training, business planning guidance and administrative support to ensure the success of this new entrepreneurial endeavour.”

And she said that a condition of the contract is that Ms Symons has to sign up unemployed workers for the night-time work, for which training will be given.

Ms Minors added that anyone interested in applying for a post with Ms Symons should contact the Labour & Training Department.