Builder’s association’s statement on death of Sam Auguiste

constructIt is with great sorrow that The Builders and Contractors Association of Dominica (BCAD) learnt of yet another construction-related death.

BCAD wishes to express its deepest condolences with the family and friends of Mr Samuel Auguiste of St Joseph who lost his life as a result of a construction-related accident at St Joseph yesterday 29th October 2015. We extend this sympathy in a special way to the rest of the construction team which he led, the client and community of St Joseph.

It is just over a year since we had to come to terms with the death of Mr Hails Honore of Vieille Case on a construction site in Picard Portsmouth on the 23rd October 2014. Work related deaths are generally preventable occurrences which are an unacceptable cost in national development and advancement. One construction-related death per year is unacceptable in any circumstance.

The death of Mr Honore’ seems to have been in vain as there has been virtually no change in the Occupational Health and Safety regulation by the State. We will continue to call on the Government of Dominica to support the efforts of the Construction Sector in enabling a cultural shift towards Occupational Health and Safety.

Mr Sam Auguiste need not have died if:
• Owners of projects are held legally responsible for the OH&S environment of a project.
• Dominica had moved to enact appropriate legislation which will impose criminal penalties for lost of life on worksites, and hold employers, consultants and owners responsibly for OH&S breaches.
• Investigations aimed to bring criminal proceedings against owners and senior managers administering construction work would begin with each death.
• The government had ensured that there are adequate and competent personnel forming an OH&S inspectorate which can issue instant fines and penalties for breaches, and had the power to stop work on sites where worker safety is compromised.
• There were fiscal incentives in our national budget to propel the necessary change in OH&S climate. It is noted that in this year’s national budget the government failed to eliminate the high duties and taxes, including VAT, on personal protective equipment and other accessories which would enhance an OH&S cultural shift.
Once again, this fresh and unfortunate incident is a time to review the status of occupational health and safety in Dominica with special attention to the construction sector.

BCAD once again finds it necessary to repeat its several requests and pronouncement toward this end. It is urgently necessary to fast-track the collaborative process among the private sector, civil society and public sector in order to reduce accidents in the workplace and stimulate a visible and effective OH&S work culture in Dominica.

BCAD once again calls on all stakeholders to collaborate with us on improving the occupational health and safety environment in Dominica

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21 Comments

  1. Latifa
    November 3, 2015

    People stop all u foolishness!and lets help a hand to his family he has left behind’ especially the little ones.

  2. President
    October 31, 2015

    Builder and contractors association talking about health and safety but on there personal construction site it is not practice. any ways my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. RIP

  3. October 31, 2015

    some of them in that builders association are are stalwart church men without a conscience . lovers of money more than the lovers of God.

  4. Sorry
    October 31, 2015

    Condolences goes out to the family. Pouring concrete to an exiting structure requires engineering impute. You just don’t change a roof from wooden to concrete proper planning and inspection is necessary. DNO please give the readers the proper information. The concrete roof collapsed on the individual. Does the Church have the necessary plans, is the contractor licensed and capable to undergo such a Hugh project? A family is left without their provider! Don’t you have investigative reporters before pointing fingers?

  5. Lol
    October 31, 2015

    This builders association is just playing politics with everything, looking for any upertunity to bash the Goverment.

    • Helas!
      November 1, 2015

      you trying to protect people from blame , did you understand what was said? I notice you can,t even spell.

      help yourself check it out.

    • white
      November 1, 2015

      Looking for a wah? You spelled that word so on purpose?

  6. Augustus Paul A.
    October 31, 2015

    He was a member of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) when I began seeing him in the capital city of Roseau where I live and got to know him.

  7. bullshit
    October 31, 2015

    what y’all dont realize is death has no ifs ands ir buts..it comes to whoever turn is next . so if allu want allu organization to make money..then push allu selves the ministry of housing so all house plans dt come in go n watch dem build

  8. Fairness
    October 31, 2015

    Where is the responsibility of the employee in all of this? Sorry the man died and my condolences to his family, but does the Act speak to the workers taking some ownership with regards to their safety on the job. I do not think it is fair to blame the employer for everything.

    • Concerned
      November 2, 2015

      It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure Health and Safety Regulations are in place. The employee becomes liable when they breach these regulations.

  9. A Doubting Thomas In Solidarity
    October 30, 2015

    Amazing; sometimes I read what people write and I wonder, do we have or take any responsibility for ourselves?

    Instead for people to sympathize with the bereaved family and co-workers, this is what someone is saying the government is to blame for the man’s death. Not the organization that represent builders? What safety measurers does the origination stress for it members? What safety measurers does an individual take himself? But the government? Really people? If your two year old falls from an apartment building it would be the government fault and not the parents? I mean this is just unbelievable.

    I started reading the article feeling the pain the family must be going through until I read where someone believes the government is responsible for this unfortunate accident, and I wished I had never read the article. Soon we will say government should not allow cars on the roads because they may cause accidents and if one happens it is the government fault.

    • white
      November 1, 2015

      Yeh,but we are not talking about what happened at someone’s road or on the street. It happened during work,of which the employer and the laws of the nation are responsible.

      • Remember the past.
        November 2, 2015

        Why doesn’t the association take the initiative and present a proposal to the govt.? That’s what is done in many countries when an importer group is seeking govt support on legislation.

  10. cowboyla
    October 30, 2015

    Am i hearing that the government could have prevented the death of mr.samuel? well i know of countries which has strict safety régulations and there are still many deaths reported in these countries, my say is that there should be regulation in place for these type of risks but there needs to be a conciousness,by the worker themselves,for example i am a builder and i but protective gears for my workers and they refuse to use them citing that they cannot work with that it preventing them from working properle etc,so it has to be a joint effort on all parties.

  11. October 30, 2015

    Black man really have not lost the feel for Masa, are you saying that putting the whip on our backs is the only way to improve the occupation health and safety of construction workers? well, well, well,
    have you not noticed that there is death in every sector of the life of the earth, and when the time comes for passing who ever, when ever, where ever, or
    however it must be done. The answer to that is one got to be always prepared for we know not when.
    May his soul rest in peace.

  12. Undone
    October 30, 2015

    You need to get your facts right before making your statement. Auguiste was not only a construction worker he was the foreman on the project so he is equally responsible to see that shortcuts were not made in the construction. From foundation any bllind bat could see that things were not going right but there are many people who think that they know all and will not stop to listen to a fools advise. Now the blame game start and what you are implying is that the SDA Church should be sued. Go ahead and try it. I hope that you are aware that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. It is sad that he has lost his life but it did not have to be so. Again I say get your facts right.

  13. October 30, 2015

    R.I.P. another one of our son has gone. Another cry for reform to at least put things in place to minimize such unfortunate incidences. Help us Oh # too late for our brother. Blame! Blame! enough togo around but our brother is DEAD!

  14. Frank
    October 30, 2015

    So the employee really has no responsibility in this?

  15. kingman
    October 30, 2015

    well, well, well, Mr Sam Auguiste need not have died if: THE GOVERNMENT HAD………..
    can you imagine!!!!!

  16. miss Quinzy
    October 30, 2015

    oh oh Thats so sad may God Comfort their hearts..

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