PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Monday, November 17th, 2008 – The Builders Licensing Bill 2008 being read for a second time in the House of Assembly was heavily contested on both sides, as Members of Parliament lobbied as to the true nature of the Bill, which will oversee persons working in the Turks and Caicos Islands construction industry.
Members of Parliament meet today in the nation's capital, Grand Turk for Third Sitting of the Second Session of First House of Assembly on Front Street, where there were a few Bills on the agenda that needed addressing.
It was Thursday June 18th this year, when on Government Speaks - Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety, Hon. Galmo Williams - brought the Builders Bill to the attention of the public. Having been approved in Cabinet on Wednesday June 17th, the Bill was first read and, debated in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, November 5th.
Then and today, the Hon. Minister reiterated that the Bill was something that was in the 2007 Progressive National Party manifesto, "something we campaigned about." He added that promise was made to "construction workers that we will put legislation and laws in place, that will enable all of our citizens to have a fair opportunity in the construction industry."
Categories have been created from general contractors, sub-contractors, to workers and the like. With regard to sub-contractors, there will be outlines for carpentry, masonry, electricians, plumbers and various other areas that are in any first world country.
With respect of the Builders Licensing Bill, a commission will be formed that will comprise of a number of professionals from the construction industry and other government agencies who will approve of licenses and regulate the industry. Persons operating will have to have proper certification, experience or expertise in their field of interest, before licenses are granted. The Bill holds contractors and sub-contractors to their work agreement. If they do not own up to said agreements, they will be fined.
Hon. Williams encouraged all Members to make a meaningful contribution to the Bill and not to make noise. "We as elected members have a lot of responsibility to meet with this Bill, and we must be honest with ourselves, our countrymen and to God."
"After many years of the construction industry in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we now have a Bill to govern it and regulate it," said the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, adding: "This Bill will go a long way in protecting Turks and Caicos Islanders in being apart of it."
Hon. Arthur Robinson MP, Opposition Member and Member for North Backsalina, Grand Turk said that the Bill seeks to empower no one, but to disenfranchise many. It was his view that the Planning Department was responsible for the regulation of the construction industry, and this Bill will remove that responsibility and their role.
He went on to add the Bill was being rushed through by Government owning to the passage of Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike, which ravaged the islands of Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay in September of this year.
Nevertheless, as it was clearly substantiated, this simply is not the case, as it is a matter of Government passing laws to protect the industry, tradesmen and citizenry of this growing nation.
This Bill will now go to the Committee Stage before having a third reading.
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