Mali and Other Locations

[TheJester]

LOL, after hearing all this BS from FIRST TIMERS in the overseas trade on a PARTICULAR JOB IN NORTHERN AFRICA say "...well, that's the way we did it in MALI...blah blah blah" and wouldn't listen to the people with experience, here's a bit of a READ for ya.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/16/AR2007081602745.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/16/AR2007081602745.html)


At the very beginning they reference THREE EMBASSY JOBS that were ALL DONE by CRAPPY UNDERPAYING contractors that we all boycotted.

"The new air-conditioning system in the $66 million U.S. Embassy in Mali broke down in June, sending office temperatures soaring to 100 degrees. An electrical fire erupted in the rehabilitated annex to the embassy in Rome (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Rome?tid=informline). And the U.S. ambassador in Belize (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Belize?tid=informline) had to personally help workers sand the floors for new housing."

Hmmmmmmmmmm, who had those, let me think:
Mali - Caddell
Rome - wasn't that Gilford?
Belize - Oh, yeah, that was the one NO ONE would go to because Fluor/JA Jones decided that everyone should have a roommate.

See what I'm getting at here kids? Stick to your guns, trust us old timers, eventually, people start to notice. You hire unskilled, unexperienced people to do TRADESPERSON jobs and to RUN THEM, and this is what you get.

HINT HINT HINT to all you Contractors on site, the government agencies are now being WATCHED.

Also, anyone that has issues with OBO, IE: being stiffed by contactors, etc, be sure to go to the author of the above article and email them about it.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/glenn+kessler/

Tell him about the members here at www.RatPackInternational.com (http://www.RatPackInternational.com) are the WORKERS and can give the REAL insight as to what is going on with the contractors and how they treat us.

[mexfishguide]

OK jester I sent a nice long informational sheet to the author.

In cluding the fact we here on site can furnish many horror storys of bad construction.:rockwoot:

I ask him to drop by the site, and talk to us?

Take Care
Mexfishguide:cheers

[nerd]

That is hilarious....And a little sad. While I am relatively new to the overseas gig, it really does seem to be difficult to find contractors that are willing to hire people with experience. What types of things do you suggest to look for in a contract? I would probably be willing to take less money to establish a better foothold in the overseas cleared work, but I don't want to drive down the price for anyone else either. Granted I do concrete, the "bozo" work of any job site but it is still good to know what you are doing. I am looking at Desbuild in Mumbai right now and I want to know that they are offering fair conditions. It just seems that is the way to get the good guys on the job.
They did say the majority of workers there are going to be locals....anyone speak Hindi?

[HeadRat]

That IS funny.

[nerd]

So to keep hostile people from doing harm to the US international interests, is it the new policy of the OBO to make the buildings fall apart before they can be dammaged?

[SK 38 wireman]

Hey Jester,
Just for the record,and belive me I´m not into sticking up for Fluor/Jones,but the housing part of the project that was mentioned in the article had nothing to do with Jones/Fluor.I was on the project for almost a year and not once did I see or hear of anyone from the embassy project have anything to do with the housing part.
I´m not sure who the conractor was,but they only hired locals to work there.
The embassy part was pretty screwed up,but that was because our P.M. was a SUPER TIGHT WAD,I hear now he´s with Harbert,so I´m sure he´ll do it again.

[mexfishguide]

Guys let us get on this article. Send the man an email, tell him what you know and what has happened to you.:rockwoot:

Believe me these "washington post guys" are what we need on our side to get these crap ways changed overseas.

If enough of us contact the guy maybe we can get him interested enough to bring this shit to a conclushion.

Remember "NIXON that paper will tackle anything.:banghead

Do not let this opportunity pass us by.:nono:

Take Care
Mexfishguide:cheers

[Big Dave]

I wandered onto the Belize project to install one sound door and add a couple of inches to a sprinkler pipe in the CAA. When I arrived I was given a pile of paper that was refered to as a punch list that has no less than 4,000 items on it. The craftmanship was what you would expect when management is relying on local labor to do as much as possible. Instead of the one to two weeks I was told the job would intail I was there for about three months. I know that Fluor/Jones personnel did not have any part in the construction of the embassy housing. The several times I was in the housing compound and in the houses I was rather impressed with the style and appearance quality of workmanship. They were not perfect but they were certainly livable and I did not hear any negative remarks from those living there. Going back to the NOB, the major problem there was the management was not willing to spend the money to get the job completed correctly and in a timely manner by knowledgeable personnel. I must add that since I was there after everyone else had left, I had very good housing and was able to have my wife come down and stay with me for most of the time. I do not mind "doubling" up in an apartment with her.

Just returned from Mali, working on the USAID building. It was very evident that the personnel building that one did not understand construction techniques and materials used in American Structures. Gypsum work was very poor, walls are out of plumb and square, finish wall coverings were installed before the final gypsum touch-up and painting were completed. I saw door hardware with the locks installed upside down and the latch plates installed upside down. They have no idea what a #3 phillips screwdriver is and every screw in the door hinges were stripped out. The list can continue for pages. I'm wondering just what OBO is planning to do when they finally claim the work is done, the puch list should make the one I had in Belize look like a short story.

[mexfishguide]

BIG DAVE

Please put these facts in an e-mail to Glenn Kessler, our sec. of state, and others.

Some one may eventually listen ot what we have known for years.:banghead

Thanks for your contribution here.

Take Care
Mexfishguide:cheers