By Dr. Arthur L.C. Antoine, P.E.,
PMP, DBIA
Principal Engineer,
A-1 EGPMS Inc. | www.A1EGPMSinc.com
In Saint Lucia and much of the Caribbean, the selection of contractors—especially for public projects—is often based on a single metric/criterion, i.e., the lowest price. While this may appear budget-friendly on paper, the long-term consequences often include poor construction quality, costly delays, and legal disputes. In this piece, I want to explore how our current approach undermines project success and what a better system could look like.
The Problem with
Lowest-Bid Contracting
In most construction projects across the region, the contractor who bids the lowest is awarded the job. It sounds efficient, however, in reality, it often rewards the most aggressive cost-cutter, not the most qualified builder.
This method doesn’t guarantee that a contractor can deliver quality work. It doesn’t assess past performance, commitment to safety, or whether the contractor consistently finishes on time and within budget. There’s no incentive to exceed expectations or maintain high standards—just to win the contract and survive the margins.
This culture leads to corner-cutting, substandard workmanship, and even collusion in some bidding processes. Many homeowners and government clients alike have been burned by projects that looked like a good deal but turned into money pits. The truth? You get what you pay for – AND – you also pay for what you didn’t check.
Is There a Better Way?
Yes—And It Starts with Evidence
If we’re serious about improving the quality of construction in Saint Lucia, we need to change how we assess and select contractors. The world has already moved toward performance-based contractor evaluation, where quality history, client satisfaction, safety records, and past project delivery are scored and factored into contractor selection.
There are proven procurement models used internationally that help project owners identify the best overall value, not just the lowest price. This approach includes ongoing performance monitoring throughout the life of the project, ensuring accountability and measurable outcomes.
Why This Matters to You (Even
If You’re Not a Developer)
This isn’t just a “government problem.” Every landlord, homeowner, and business owner hiring a builder is making decisions about quality and is risking a financial nightmare if those decisions are uninformed.
Let’s be honest: how many of us truly vet a contractor’s record before hiring them? How many of us rely solely on price? And how many of us have ended up with incomplete jobs, leaking roofs, or crooked tiles?
We need certification systems, contractor rating platforms, and better project audits—not to burden small businesses, but rather to empower clients with data so they can make smart, safe, and value-based choices.
Recommendations for a Smarter Approach
Here are five practical ideas we can begin to act on now, whether you’re managing public tenders or building your dream home:
- Move beyond price: Always ask for a contractor’s portfolio, references, and license status. Past performance matters – that is beyond your best friend’s or family’s referrals.
- Push for contractor ratings: Support the creation of a system to rate contractors based on quality, not just how low they can bid.
- Involve civil society: Public-private oversight bodies (with engineers, lawyers, consumer reps) can serve as independent checks.
- Standardise contractor certification: Create transparent national guidelines and minimum training requirements.
- Audit large projects: Major public contracts should undergo comprehensive audits, not just financial reviews; these audits should include data collection and assessments of workmanship, contract compliance, rework levels, and quality standards. Crucially, audits should incorporate public-private oversight to enhance good governance, transparency, and accountability.
Let’s Build with Purpose
—Not Just Concrete
Quality construction is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. From the homes we live in to the schools our children attend, our road infrastructure, our hospitals, etc., the way we build reflects how seriously we take the safety, dignity, and resilience of our communities.
We can’t continue awarding multimillion-dollar projects based on the same logic we use to choose our cellphone plans. As Saint Lucia modernises and grows, let’s ensure our construction industry grows with it—ethically, intelligently, and sustainably.
Updated perspectives building on the author’s previous publication, originally presented at the Third Industrial Engineering and Management Conference, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, December 2014:
Antoine, Arthur L. C., “Standardization of the Procedures for the Procurement of Public Works/Services with Particular Attention to the Selection of Contractors for Public Works in the Caribbean.” The Journal of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago 43, no. 1 (April/May 2015): 10–15.
Dr. Arthur L.C. Antoine is a Saint Lucian civil engineer and construction expert with over 20 years of global project management experience. He is the Principal Engineer at A-1 EGPMS Inc. and a published advocate for better infrastructure and data-driven solutions across the Caribbean.