NASSAU, Bahamas -- Jamal Wright, 22, is a recent addition to Bahamas Striping’s staff of 13 young Bahamians, and praises the striping company for “saving his life” and giving him skills and a good job. Wright, who like many young Bahamians, had been struggling to support his family by washing cars and selling phone cards, now sees a future of hope thanks to his hiring and training by the leading striping company in the Bahamas.

“Things are tough out there,” says Wright. “Before, Bahamas Striping I never knew if I’d have enough to feed my family from day to day. Now I can layout car parks, maintain the company’s machines and stripe. It’s certainly a brighter future. I feel safer for my baby daughter.”

Bahamas Striping President, Atario Mitchell, chose Wright for training and in a short time found him to be conscientious and hard working.

“I saw a desire in Jamal for hard work and quality in this young man,” says Mitchell. “He’s now able to do work that foreigners come here to do. It’s obvious that there’s no longer any need for foreigners to be striping the Sports Center roads, The Chinese Airport Gateway and the massive Road Improvement Project. These are the large projects where Bahamian companies like us have been blocked from working by foreigners.”

Bahamas Striping’s philosophy is to train young men, give them skills and career path. This helps give our men desperately-needed employment and combats crime,” added Mitchell. “We wish Jamal well as a valued and skilled member of our team.”

Photo: Like many Bahamians willing to do anything to earn a crust, Jamal Wright, 22, used to wash cars and sell phone cards – and worried where to find the next meal. Now, as Bahamas Striping’s latest trainee for a career in road marking, Jamal’s future is full of hope. Recently, Jamal (picture right) used a hand mould to mark thermoplastic speed humps along on Johnson Road.