Rust Never Sleeps – The Diary of a Chief Engineer

April 3, 2025
Written by:

John Thatcher

Founder & CEO

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The Caribbean Engineer’s Playbook: Tackling Heat, Hurricanes, and High Expectations

It’s 7 a.m. on a Caribbean island. The sun’s already baking the sand, humidity’s pushing 90%, and a supply boat with critical HVAC parts is delayed—again. In 48 hours, 200 guests will arrive for the holiday of a lifetime, expecting chilled bedrooms, a pristine spa, and Instagram-worthy vibes. Oh, and two of your best team members are out sick with the flu. Welcome to resort engineering in the Caribbean, where every day is a masterclass in grit, ingenuity, and keeping cool under pressure.

The playbook for this gig isn’t found in textbooks. It’s written in the salt air, the unpredictable supply chains, and the relentless expectations of luxury travelers. Here’s a peek at how it plays out.

Heat: Chilling Bedrooms Without the Racket

Picture this: 200 guests checking into oceanfront suites, each expecting a crisp 22°C escape from the tropical swelter. Noisy air conditioning isn’t an option—luxury means silence. In a salt-soaked environment, standard AC units corrode faster than you can say “maintenance log.” So, you spec out corrosion-resistant coils and whisper-quiet mini-split systems. But with the supply boat stuck off-island, you’re rerouting spares from a sister property 50 miles away, praying the local skipper beats the clock. The lesson? Flexibility is as critical as the right tech. Those bedrooms will be chilled, but it’s your hustle that seals the deal.

Hurricanes: Building for the Worst, Hoping for the Best

The Caribbean’s beauty comes with a catch—hurricane season. With guests dreaming of a once-in-a-lifetime escape, you can’t let a storm rewrite their story. Reinforced concrete seawalls and impact-resistant glazing are table stakes, but it’s the details that matter. Take the spa: its steam rooms and hydrotherapy pools need power and plumbing that don’t flinch when 120-mph winds howl. Last week, you tested backup generators—twice—because a flicker in service isn’t an option. With team members down, you’re leaning on local labor to double-check seals and drains. They know the land better than anyone; their input’s gold when the forecast turns grim.

High Expectations: Spa Days and Supply Chain Chaos

Speaking of that spa—it’s the heart of this holiday’s allure. Guests want cascading waterfalls and saunas at 40°C, all humming by check-in. But the pump valves you ordered are still in customs, and the local supplier’s best alternative is a half-day drive away. You’re on the phone with a guy named Carlos, negotiating a truck rental while training a local crew to install on the fly. They’re quick learners, and you’re grateful—because with a skeleton team, every pair of hands counts. By Friday, the spa’s misting like a dream, and you’ve got a new respect for the island’s workforce. High expectations met, one workaround at a time.

The Salt Factor: Rust Never Sleeps

Then there’s the salt. It’s in the air, on the tools, in your hair by noon. Steel rebar rusts in months if you’re not careful, and every bolt on this resort feels the sting. You’ve specced galvanized fittings and marine-grade alloys, but with supply hiccups, you’re spot-checking inventory like a hawk. The bedroom balconies overlooking the sea? They’re holding strong, thanks to a coat of epoxy paint you insisted on last month. It’s not glamorous, but it’s why the resort still shines when the guests roll in.

The Human Element: Team Down, Spirits Up

With a few engineers sidelined, the pressure’s on. You’re juggling roles—part designer, part logistics ninja, part cheerleader. The local crew steps up, and you’re reminded: this isn’t just about steel and circuits. It’s about people pulling together under a blazing sun, making sure 200 travelers never know how close the spa was to a delay or the AC to a hum.

In the Caribbean, resort engineering isn’t a job—it’s a proving ground. Heat, hurricanes, and high stakes don’t wait for perfect conditions. They demand a playbook built on quick thinking, local know-how, and a knack for turning chaos into calm. When those guests arrive, sipping rum punch by a flawless spa, they’ll never see the sweat behind the scenes. But you will—and that’s what makes it worth it.

  • If you are a Resort Engineer looking for your next move or you are on the hunt for experienced Engineer to join your team, please get in touch or connect with Fiona Corbett today.

Bridging the Caribbean Skills Gap – A Construction Recruiter’s Perspective

February 20, 2025
Written by:

John Thatcher

Founder & CEO

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In 2005, over 90% of our construction placements in the Caribbean were international/European professionals. Today, the split is nearer 50% Caribbean, 50% elsewhere. Having spent 20 years recruiting in the Caribbean, one thing I’ve noticed is how construction recruiting has evolved over the years. With the UN projecting 2.5% growth for the Caribbean in 2025, and post-election US investment expected to boost development further, the construction sector stands at an exciting crossroads; it remains a mainstay of driving development in the region, but the way that we source talent has changed significantly.

How Times Have Changed

I still remember my first placement in the region back in 2005 – a British Quantity Surveyor heading to Antigua (Kier – a hotel for Sandals Resorts). Back then, if you needed specialized construction professionals, you automatically looked overseas. That was just how things worked.

Fast forward to 2025, and what a difference two decades make! These days, we’re seeing a much more balanced approach. Yes, international skills and expertise are still sought, but there’s also an impressive pool of Caribbean talent making waves across the region.

Moving Around the Islands – Not Always Plain Sailing

Here’s where things can get a bit frustrating. The Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) Certificate was supposed to make it easier for professionals to move between islands. A great idea; a bit like freedom of movement in the EU. However – several key players aren’t part of the game. The Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas, while they’re associate members of CARICOM, aren’t in the CSME. Neither are the Cayman Islands or Bermuda. Additionally, there are sometimes headaches “proving” skills under the scheme when the worker clearly has valuable experience, but no degree.

Making it Work Anyway

Despite these hurdles, we’re seeing some real success stories. At Thatcher Associates, we’ve been connecting talent across the region in ways that would have seemed unlikely 20 years ago. Bahamian Quantity Surveyors are making their mark in Trinidad, Trinidadian Project Managers are leading teams in Jamaica, Grenadians are bringing their expertise to Barbados, and Caymanian professionals are thriving in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

And it’s not just about regional movement though. The Caribbean construction scene has become a true cultural and professional melting pot, with professionals from South Africa, Britain, America, Canada, and India all bringing their unique perspectives and expertise to the table. This mix of talent creates an incredibly rich working environment where different approaches and ideas come together.

What the Caribbean Offers

Let’s be clear about what makes the Caribbean construction sector special. It’s not just building structures on islands – the sector supports developing communities and creates resilient infrastructure that safeguards the future of the region, which is becoming much more important given climate change and the increasing frequency of hurricanes. Projects here offer unique opportunities to innovate and make a real difference. Plus, let’s not forget the obvious – working in paradise isn’t exactly a tough sell!

The region offers:

  • Chances to work on diverse, cutting-edge projects
  • Experience with climate-resilient construction
  • Exposure to multiple markets and approaches
  • A fantastic quality of life
  • The opportunity to be part of rapidly developing economies

Looking Ahead

The construction industry in the Caribbean is at an exciting point. Yes, there are skills gaps to bridge, and yes, the process of moving talent around could be smoother. But we’re seeing more and more success stories of both regional and international professionals finding their place in the Caribbean construction scene.

The ILO and CARICOM are currently working on a study about labor movement in the region, and their findings (expected in April 2025) should give us even more insights into how we can make things work better.

We are currently anticipating skills shortages across all construction disciplines; Site and Project Management, Cost Management and Quantity Surveying.

Making the Right Hiring Choices

If you’re hiring in the Caribbean construction sector, choosing the right recruitment partner is crucial. At Thatcher Associates, we bring two decades of regional experience to every search. We understand the importance of both skills and cultural fit. We can start searches locally when appropriate and broaden our scope strategically to ensure the best match for your organization or project.

Whether you’re looking to hire locally, regionally or need to cast a wider international net, we’d be delighted to discuss your specific needs. Get in touch with John Thatcher or James Griffin at Thatcher Associates to learn more about how we can support your recruitment goals in the Caribbean construction sector.

Contact Us

📧 John Thatcher: [email protected]

📧 James Griffin: [email protected]

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