PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 – The Builders Licensing Bill 2008 was passed in the House of Assembly during theThird Sitting of the Second Session of First House of Assembly having gone through the second reading, Committee of the whole assembly and passage.
In addition to this, the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2008, was also passed, which provided for an extended stay of up to 90 days in respect of tourist visiting the islands rather than the 30 days that is currently provided for in the law.
With respect of the Builders Licensing Bill which was hotly debated by both sides of the House; with the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Galmo Williams, having carriage of the Bill defending his Government's position as to the reasons for the Bill being brought at such a crucial time in the development of the country honouring the commitment that his party made in its 2007 manifesto that it would regulate the construction industry.
The Ordinance as passed, seeks to oversee persons working in the Turks and Caicos Islands construction industry have categories created from general contractors, sub-contractors, to workers and the like. There are also provisions for carpentry, masonry, electricians, plumbers and various other areas that are in any first world country. The Ordinance further seeks to protect Belongers working in the working in the industry.
The Ordinance further seeks to grandfather in persons who have been in the business in the all of the aforementioned categories having had seven (7) years of experience. It was also recognized that many of the contractors might not be able to pass an examination and, so based on the years of experience, they too have been grandfathered in.
Moreover, the Ordinance provides for the establishment of a Board which will comprise of a chairman to be appointed by the Minister after consultation with the Contractors Association, one member appointed by the Minister on the advice of the Contractors Association, one member on the advice of professionals in the industry, one member he appoints in his own discretion, the Director of Planning and the Principal of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College.
Persons operating will have to have proper certification, experience or expertise in their field of interest, before licenses are granted. The Ordinance holds contractors and sub-contractors to their work agreement. If they do not own up to said agreements, they will be fined.
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 in the House of Assembly on August 5th.
"After many years of the construction industry in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we now have an Ordnance to govern it and regulate it," said the Hon. Williams, adding: "This Bill will go a long way in protecting Turks and Caicos Islanders in being apart of it."
Hon. Williams further stated in the House that he is a man of the people and this one way of ensuring that Turks and Caicos Islands will no longer to compete with the larger construction company, which bring in mass labourers.
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