BCAD president says a resilient nation impossible without people involvement

Anthony LeBlanc is President of BCAD

President of the Builders and Construction Association of Dominica (BCAD), Tony LeBlanc is of the opinion that in order to build a resilient nation, its local people must be involved.

He spoke at a National Rebuilding and Economic Partnership Consultation organized by the government earlier this week.

“Building resilience in a nation cannot be reasonably conceived without the involvement of its people,” he stated. “Any attempt to do so largely from outside may result in a pseudo-effort at economic growth and more appropriately a new type of new colonization.”

See LeBlanc’s full speech below.

Download (PDF, 128KB)

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38 Comments

  1. in these times
    February 26, 2018

    I seriously do not see us becoming a climate change resilient nation with the way we are going. 6 months after Maria and we still havent recovered from the effects of Erica. The place is a mess. I have little confidence in the country where this is concerned. Sorry to sound so negative but its my reality.

  2. kellzo
    February 25, 2018

    2.The people of the nation need to take pride and ownership (stewardship) of the overall development of
    the country with or without government intervention. It is happening some communities but we need to
    see it throughout the nation. This comes back to education and the skilled worker.

    3. Government ministers are not “Jack of All Trades”, they need to seriously start delegating work to the
    subject experts.

    These are just a few things to consider based the president’s letter. I believe his intentions are good and given the current climate folks are firing shots in the dark with no clear target in sight.

    • UDOHREADYET
      February 26, 2018

      All good points but the young people in the country have to take initiative. it may be because of parenting but the need to make adult decisions and work towards their future.

      • in these times
        February 26, 2018

        if grown party representatives cannot even execute initiatives without the consent of the government you think it is youth that will be listened to? the your are never listened to here. Never. we may be heard at times, but we are not listened to by the “grown up” decision makers. After all who are the youth to tell big people what to do.

  3. kellzo
    February 25, 2018

    The resiliency aspect of the rebuilding process has be missed used, abused and in some case the word has be used out of context. Some of the comments are harsh because the common man is thinking in terms of the literal meaning of the word. Let’s be clear and honest here, all we want to do is to rebuild a nation which will be capable of handling another Hurricane Maria with less impact to our infrastructure.
    Here are few things to consider:

    1. The education system in our nation has to be reconfigured to deliver young minds (male & female)
    which are capable of performing skilled work (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc.). All nations are built
    from the efforts, efficiency and ingenuity of skilled workers. Investors will finance projects but skilled
    workers have to build and maintain it. Always.

  4. kellzo
    February 25, 2018

    The president of BCAD has highlighted some interesting aspects with respect to the rebuilding of nation post Hurricane Maria; this is an important initiative. I am not an expert on government policy and other political matters but I will speak about matters related to my expertise; namely the discipline of Civil Engineering and building construction. Building construction techniques has not changed over the past 100 yrs. There has been changes in how materials are fabricated, how projects are delivered and how the attitudes of stake holders have changed. So the question is can we build resilient structures? Yes. Can we do it now? No.

  5. Neverson St jean
    February 25, 2018

    Illuminator, I don’t know why some people hide behind some fake names. First I wonder where u have been for the past two or so yrs. Wth regards to your third point, the BCAD did take the govt to court with regards to building the 18 million dollar bridge. And guess what the bridge was completed and the case was never heard. So here u go

  6. Raising the standard
    February 24, 2018

    Are you really sure that the amount of contractors on island can complete housing for Dominica. Already we see that the extent of damage on the island is a direct mismanagement of building codes in Dominica by BCAD. Who the hell build bridges in Rivers? Dominica has many crooks and certain organisations as this are on a mission to make the Government look bad. I applaud the Government to get help outside to train our aspiring contractors because who we have in BCAD is a disgrace.

    • Gov’t Failed The Nation
      February 25, 2018

      Why is it that after 17 years in office as a Gov’t it is only now, following the passing of Hurricane Maria, that you’ve deemed “Raising The Standard” to be critical? Why is it that in an island of less than 70,000 (post Maria) people it’s void of skilled personnel in the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sectors of industry? Isn’t all of BCAD members trained and qualified to a level of competence that provides them with the skills and expertise to be proficient?

      • UDOHREADYET
        February 26, 2018

        Maybe because the infrastructure is destroyed and homes are destroyed they are using that negative thing as an opportunity to build it back better!

        What do you expect in your mind? that that people should have torn down their homes and the government destroy its infrastructure to rebuild it for something they’ve never experienced….

        I have so much difficulty understanding why there are so many naysaying, negative, lazy Dominicans that want to badmouth each other and work against each other rather than work together to move the country forward!

  7. Man bites dogs
    February 24, 2018

    Mr President, I have said before and will say it again that most builders in Dominica are rubbish, for a start they do not work to the planning guide lines ,also this guys didn’t know one don’t used straight nails on roofs only screw must be used. We paying big money to build our homes and all we getting is cowboys builders this rubbish must be addressed, Pm Skerrit,please put a stop to those con merchants and that so-called LeBlanc President must be rooted out .

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 24, 2018

      Mr. Man bite Dog; prior to using nails the system of building was utilizing the wedge; they would drill a hole, and shape a bit if wood to the size of the hole and hammer the wedge in the hole, thus holding the structure together.
      All of the very old Victorian building still standing in Dominica, and the rest of the Caribbean.

      I do not know what they used to fasten the singles, but nails did not become popular to poor people in the country until in the late 1930/40’s.  I not know if you remember when the trash roof was the order of the day, all of the houses you saw with a trash roof out of cane leaves were not built with nails.

      Screws is a recent thing!

      I will agree with you most people who claim to be build houses in Dominica clearly do not know what the are doing where it pertains to installing the roof. The older professionals are all departed!

      • Man bites dogs
        February 25, 2018

        @ FRANCISCO, In the UK as you may well know some villages people still used trash roofs neatly done with wire mess looks very nice, Ya also wooden wedge is also used very good for holding the structure for many years ,Yes you are right.

      • Roger Burnett
        February 25, 2018

        Your quite right, most of the older knowledgeable skilled workers are all departed.

        Perhaps I am one of the few left alive that has fitted the wooden pegs that you refer to. They are correctly known as trunnels, a word derived from “tree-nail”. They were not tapered as a wedge is tapered. Their holding power depended on a tight fit. To achieve this they were sometimes cut square in order to give a greater “interference fit” and driven in hot so that they might swell in normal humidity.

        Wedges were sometimes used to tighten the mortise and tenon joint.

        I do not know if or how wood shingles were fastened before nails. However, before nails clay tiles were secured with wooden pegs.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 25, 2018

        “Their holding power depended on a tight fit. To achieve this they were sometimes cut square in order to give a greater “interference fit” and driven in hot so that they might swell in normal humidity.”

        Thanks Roger;  that is the beauty of communication, the idea is to be informed and learn: I knew of the method, but the science of it all you taught me:

        “interference fit” and driven in hot so that they might swell in normal humidity.”

        The latter is the actual science involved.

        Great!

      • in these times
        February 26, 2018

        Its called a thatched roof. Not a trash roof.

      • UDOHREADYET
        February 26, 2018

        Storms are more powerful and there are many many more homes, roads and bridges… consider that!

  8. Man Himself
    February 24, 2018

    So true. The regime and its emperor posturing about resiliency while surrounded by yes men and women.
    Dominicans at the bottom catching crumbs. LeBlanc be like the real LeBlanc and join us to liberate Dominica from this kleptocracy!

  9. UDOHREADYET
    February 24, 2018

    If people don’t want to get involved, allow politics to get in the way of clear thunking, or are just plain lazy… and just want to reap the benefits… people that are actively planing, doing and investing will not wait for them.

    • RandyX
      February 25, 2018

      So what are you telling us? You are clearly thinking? You are one of the worst ones looking at everything through your red tinted spectacles. You only see what you want to see. Let me tell you, the real crime is turning a blind eye. Eventually we will hold all you Labour operatives accountable and not only your political master.

  10. B VIDAL
    February 24, 2018

    mr i hope u dont mean puting 2×4 plate and 2×3 lat that not Resillient and my roof was damage by 24 gage that fell on my house so usein 24 gage with 2×4 plate and 2×3 lat that make no sence to me you was probly was in collage when i was paintting treated 2×6 pushin half ins steal thru dem in gada and sxm they they are still there up to now so we want to know what u mean when you talk about RESILLIENT!!!

  11. mine
    February 24, 2018

    the apple did not fall far from the tree.

  12. February 24, 2018

    You are so right. This is happening in every sector. Unfortunately our beautiful country is run by a psychopath whose only egocentric, narcissistic, megalomaniac interest is to be worshipped. And for some mysterious reasons, for a few dollars now and then, that is exactly what most Dominicans do. May the gods help us (and I mean we really need al possible gods out there!)

    • RandyX
      February 25, 2018

      Very well spoken!!

  13. All Saint!
    February 24, 2018

    I see it all being at the heart of the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, Nigeria infrastructural project. How things ought to and ought not to be done! Every word of the content of your speech resonates and was worthy of reading. The essence of your caution – really, only a fool will not embrace it. There is an old adage that says ‘fools laugh at their own calamity’ – let us hope the gov’t doesn’t fall victim to it by their lack of transparency and accountability, inclusiveness and respect for our constitution. Good governance does not constitutes proactively looking for loopholes in the country’s written constitution to abuse, using it as a means of justifying what’s morally wrong for the nation’s people.

  14. anonymous2
    February 23, 2018

    To begin with, there is no such thing as a ‘climate resistant country.” Apparently many people cannot see through what this presentation is really about. Dominica as well as many other 3rd world countries were never meant to “develop.” Development is not necessarily a good thing. One has to understand how the world really works and you are not taught that in school or anywhere else except that you seek the truth yourself. As the bible says “there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.” Don’t t be blinded by the words of those that want to instill belief systems. Belief systems are not the truth….. they just sound good and noble. Everybody wants to make money. Remember the meaning of the word government (mind control).

  15. Massacre
    February 23, 2018

    Mr. Le Blanc, smart guys like you are a threat to these small minded people we have in Gov’t so they are afraid to even listen to men and women like you .
    It is a shame that a simple citizen is not given the chance to help develop his nation.

  16. Illuminator
    February 23, 2018

    A very clear, interesting and thought provoking presentation. In reading through it though, a couple points jump at me, that I would be interested in hearing the BCAD’s response to.
    1. Does the BCAD through it’s membership have the requisite skills, capacity etc, to for example replace the JDF as the builders of bailey bridges.
    2. Is the BCAD and it’s membership taking direct and personal responsibility for increasing their capacity, skills, training etc, etc to allow them to be able to empower themselves to effectively participate in climate resilient rebuilding?
    3. If the BCAD for example were to mount a legal challenge to the Governments alleged improper award of procurement contracts, maintaining of emergency situations as a means to improperly awarding contracts and so on, would the facts rule in favor of the BCAD?
    4. How committed is the BCAD to ensure that in the 21st Century, the Dominican people are not to be subjected to another cycle of economic slavery from…

    • Neverson St jean
      February 25, 2018

      Also Illuminator the law requires that the govt puts all contracts up for bids where the taxpayers money is concerned. End of argument.

  17. Roger Burnett
    February 23, 2018

    Tony LeBlanc has made some very valid points. In particular the danger of being over dependent on outside help and resources.

    This is not to say that we should not learn from others. All true professionals and skilled craftsmen never stop learning. But at the end of the day we have to have the confidence to do the job ourselves.

    Unfortunately, there is now a generation of Dominicans that believe a skill is something that can be acquired in six weeks.

  18. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 23, 2018

     “Tony LeBlanc is of the opinion that in order to build a resilient nation, its local people must be involved. ”
     
    Since Dominicans, are the only people on the planet who knows how to build a resilient nation; including you Tony Leblanc, I challenge you to describe to me an idiot with a curious mind who don’t know and would like to know how do one go about building a resilient nation, or ” a climate resilient nation.”
     
    You you people talk so much nonsense that you do not even know when you are embarrassing yourself.
     
    “in order to build a resilient nation, its local people must be involved. ” What sort of hogwash is that? Do you know of any place on earth where a resilient nation exists?

    Okay I forgot Roosevelt and people like you are building the first resilient country on earth!

    Hoe sad, and stupid are our people, you are talking as you are speaking reality; man stop making a fool out of yourself!

    • My opinion
      February 25, 2018

      Why do you call yourself an idiot?
      At least you appear to be honest.
      Your contributions, however, may suggest some deeper underlying issue(s).
      Time for introspection?

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        February 26, 2018

        You need to recognize Sarcasm when you read it!

        When I said I am an idiot, am simply being sarcastic, making a toy out of that guy over the nonsense he is talking!

        Unless this guy and Roosevelt have a revelation from God, instructing them how to build a climate resilient Dominica the joke is on them because nobody can build anything the elements of nature will not be able to destroy: what the elements such as hurricane, earthquake, fire, floods, even ordinary rainfall will not destroy, termites will do the damage!

        Again I suggest if Roosevelt Skerrit, and Anthony Leblanc has a theory, and scientific method they have developed to create a climate resilient Dominica, I demand they present it. Perhaps they can declare their methods intellectual property, get a registered trademark; introduce it to the world and sell the idea for monetary gain, hence they will become the worlds richest duo!

        After all Roosevelt said Dominica will be the first climate resilient country in the…

  19. Hmph!
    February 23, 2018

    I think the education system is partly responsible for the lack of skille people in D/ca. What training are we offering our childen. In my expefience most of our boys want to use their hands. The JSP was working well. That would have been an area that could have been developed. There are a lot more skills to be acquired by our boys and girls. Some of those who are skilled make a lot more money than me. We need to review our education system. I CANT get a plumber to do repairs for my house. As for electricity. Smh

  20. Looking on
    February 23, 2018

    Some of us had to take a second loan to complete our house which we have to pay back for 20+ years. Smh

  21. Looking on
    February 23, 2018

    Well said sir but one thing I have observed with the locals is that one does not get a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. The builders come to the job place about 7:30- 8:00. They loaf around and do nothing much. By the time it is 9 o clock they take an hour break to have breakfast. They get back to work then by the time it is 1 -2 o clock they getting ready to leave. Is this 8 hrs? Many of us suffered under local builders when our houses were being built. Smh

  22. Shaka Zulu
    February 23, 2018

    I listened to your presentation and it is nothing but brilliant. Keep on fighting for your interest. You have every right as a Dominican to make sure that you and your company are not left out. After all, you employ Dominicans and i know they a quite capable folks. Keep on fighting for what is right you are on the correct side of the equation for advancement.

  23. Jonathan Y St Jean
    February 23, 2018

    I fully support your point of view Mr LeBlanc and would just add that not some locals but all locals must be brought on board to contribute according to their ability and ñot according to political affiliation

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