Planning Minister warns building contractors not to repeat mistakes of the past

Dr. McIntyre warned about taking shortcuts in the rebuilding process

Minister for Planning Dr. Colin McIntyre has told 296 newly trained contractors and builders that they should not repeat the mistakes their predecessors made in the past.

The builders and contractors completed a series of workshops geared at ensuring that the proper building practices are utilized in the rebuilding process after Hurricane Maria.

The workshop took place in 11 sessions in the areas of Roseau, Portsmouth, Marigot, La Plaine, Paix Bouche, Kalinago Territory and Roseau Valley.

The initiative was done by the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Housing in collaboration with the UNDP and Engineers Without Borders.

At a ceremony for the presentation of certificates to the contractors on Tuesday, Dr. McIntyre warned about taking shortcuts in the rebuilding process.

“It must be done properly,” he stated. “Some of the predecessors before your time, the contractors and engineers who built these roofs, there were probably one or two little shortcuts … when Hurricane Maria struck us it turned everything into a mess for us … you are now trained according to the building standards and codes we have here to really make a difference in Dominica.”

He pointed out that it would be disappointing that upon the repairs of homes after Maria, in the event of another natural disaster these contractors’ work will be demolished.

He said although jobs of excellent quality can be destroyed by the effects of a category 5 hurricane, the contractors should build more resilient infrastructure.

Dr. McIntyre urged the contractors to refer the building codes and standards once confronted with a challenge on the field.

“Follow your little manual that we are going to deliver to you here today, just to refresh yourself,” he noted. “Some things become routine, you know how to put in a nail, you know how to put in a rafter, how to place it on your ridge beam, you may know how to do that but anytime you confront a challenge, don’t be afraid to consult your codes.”

He also said the contractors should refrain from presenting their clients with mediocre work, saying he has received complaints from clients who have expressed their dissatisfactions with the work of contractors.

“People suffered during Maria and do not take them for a ride, be honest with them, give them a good job and not because they depend on you right now and because you are in short supply and high demand you should come out there and give them a run for their money,” he said. “The government is committed to providing all the training that is necessary, all what is required to build this country and build it into the first climate resilient island.”

The training courses were held under the theme: “Guide to the Dominica Housing Standards.”

Some of the builders and contractors at the ceremony

 

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18 Comments

  1. time to speak is now
    February 23, 2018

    Thank God Sonnysconstruction picard and his team did a fantastic Job on my roof , withstood the pounding MARIA gave and survived unscathed .. Good work Israel Paul (ISO)..

  2. Anonymous
    February 22, 2018

    where are the institutions which have been enacted to safe guard the industry and the consumers, such as the board of architects, board of engineers? what qualifies someone to be a contractor? how could one verify this information? what is the government doing in order to ensure these institutions function properly in order to safe guard public interest?

  3. Carrotop
    February 21, 2018

    And how about the gouging going on, taking people for a holy ride.

  4. B VIDAL
    February 21, 2018

    yes is true by put little 2×4 on rinbeam and putin little strips of mettle and calling that hurrcane tie that just doing the same old cappentry for huricane again please paint yr treted rafters put on the on the ringbeam bour a hole one ins from the top push a half steal thru each rafter and while casting yr ringbeam put two 5/16 steal bettwen each rafter, and rap the 5/16 steal around the half ins steal and cast that leave that plate alone i never hear no body change rafter in thair life their life time dont let no contractor FOOL U,

  5. anonymous2
    February 21, 2018

    Good luck Dr. McIntyre. The contractors attending your workshops may be conscientious however, there are too many others out there that do shoddy work. Much of the rebuilding looks like more of the same……. just waiting for the next hurricane to blow off.

  6. SN
    February 21, 2018

    To ensure codes are adhered to, no building/or renovations should take place without a permit and without periodic inspection of the job. No work should continue if inspection of a given phase show non-compliance with the codes. Only when all phases are code compliant should a certificate of occupancy be given.

  7. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 21, 2018

    Let me finish this:

    Now I want to know what law in Dominica bestows the power on a government minister the right to bury a dead Russian in Dominica, found dead they claimed without  the one who decided to play undertaker, or some sort of “funeral  agency man”  doing so without notifying the police!

    When people are found dead the first to be notify should be the police who should investigate the scene   of the crime, prior to removing the body to the mouge where a medical performs a postmodern, or autopsy! 

    Some people should be arrested and charged with murder! And DNO this should not be censored because I have a video of a certain fellow describing to the world how he conducted himself step by step even to dressing the dead put on her Russian shoe.

    It is also in Youtube and Facebook!

  8. Ferrar_FenTon_Bible
    February 21, 2018

    Your sister house in fond canie is a danger no matter how much land you cut it always ending up in her house why don’t you advice yourself and cut another road to trafalgar from Cochrane.

  9. in these times
    February 21, 2018

    I already see nonsense being built and rebuilt around the nation.

    • RandyX
      February 22, 2018

      Of course, it’s just talk…

  10. LifeandDeath
    February 21, 2018

    I believe that this is commendable. Good move by the Ministry re training contractors. Although i would hate to have a Hurricane every year to test our new found skills and standards, hope that when the inevitable happens that we can really see the fruits of our labour, and that Dominica would be one step further towards our own country development.

  11. Anon
    February 21, 2018

    Instead of ‘warning’ contractors, how about actual legislation that penalizes anyone who falls to adhere to the building codes and standards?

  12. Jonathan Y St Jean
    February 21, 2018

    This warning is hollow unless the minister assists homeowners by having parliament pass legislation to protect homeowners against shoddy and substandard work.Unless the homeowner is educated about his/her rights to getting value for money spent and the contractors are educated about the rights of homeowners then these pronouncements are only feel good blowing of hot air.

  13. Roger Burnett
    February 21, 2018

    “You know how to put in a nail…”

    Alas, many do not know how “to put in a nail”. In our imported pine, a nail will tend to follow the angle of the grain and if the nail is heavy enough to do its job (usually they are too light) it may split the timber. The solution – and good practice – is to drill a pilot hole, but I doubt if that’s in the manual.

    Furthermore, almost all hammers that are available locally are badly balanced and this makes “driving home” a nail all the more difficult. My four carpentry hammers, each for a specific purpose, have been with me for over sixty years.

    • Roger Burnett
      February 22, 2018

      And I might add:

      Most of the imported nails cannot qualify as being hot-dipped galvanized. With anything less there is a reaction between the preservative in the wood and the nail, to the detriment of both. Additionally, most of the imported pine is classified for non- structural work (the lowest grade) and on arrival it has a very high moisture content. This is yet another factor that leads to warpage, shrinkage and decay.

      Unless the Revised Building Code specifies the quality of materials we are getting nowhere.

      May I ask, apart from these training workshops, what qualifies one to be a contractor/builder?

      • Roger Burnett
        February 22, 2018

        I could write a book on the subject of “galvanized” as a roof covering, but let me limit myself to saying…

        Even 24 gauge galvanized is less than half the thickness of a ten cent coin. But whereas the coin is corrosion resistant through and through, galvanized has only thin surface protection. Nailing and cutting compromises that protection and corrosion sets in.

  14. viewsexpressed
    February 21, 2018

    colin, when are you`ll regime gonna wake up and address yourselves with the severe povverty you all have inflvuted on poor Dominincans over the past 17 years. You all are in no position to leture s. We work hard for our money in this ailing economy while you all fly high and nice. Pleade fdo kecture us on dececny, as your cgovernment has been corrupt for the pastt years and famiies and foes have supported this corruption as we suffer.
    Your government deliberate mistakes has been painful and suffering to us hard working people. We know al about you all, so sto patronising us. You all have faiked us. Get lost, time to go….and ake way for more decent people and honest ans reoutableleaders. That youcirrup corrupt Labour govrnment and leaders lack.
    Skerrit Must Go…Just Go

  15. Shaka Zulu
    February 21, 2018

    Legislation, oversight, and enforcement enforcement enforcement enforcement enforcement. I say no more.

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