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BOARD OF
ENGINEERING ADVISES ALL DEVELOPERS
USE ONLY REGISTERED ENGINEERS
The Board of
Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago urges all developers to use only
registered engineers in the design and construction of any engineering
work.
The Board advises
that such a policy could mitigate potential disastrous consequences now
and in future years, particularly in the present environment of
accelerated development activity in the country. It would also help to
ensure that the Country gets quality for money invested.
The Engineering
Profession Act, 1985 makes provision for the registration of Engineers
in Trinidad and Tobago. A Registered Engineer is bound by a strict Code
of Ethics under existing legislation. However, there is no legal
requirement that one must be a Registered Engineer to practise
engineering in Trinidad and Tobago.
This contrasts with
other professions, such as:-
-
The Legal Profession – where only lawyers accepted
by the local bar can practise law.
-
Medicine – where only practitioners accredited to
the Medical Board can practise medicine.
-
Plumbing – where only licensed plumbers can
practise plumbing.
-
Electrical installation – where only licensed
wiremen are allowed to wire buildings etc.
All development designs
have to be approved by appropriate approval agencies. However, anyone
can design engineering works and construct buildings and structures
including those used by the public as stores, theaters, cinemas,
community halls, libraries, schools, night clubs, sewerage disposal
systems and highways etc.
To safeguard the
public, the Engineering Community has prepared legislation to require
that only Registered Engineers should legally be allowed to practise
professional engineering in Trinidad and Tobago. The legislation is yet
to be taken to Parliament.
In the interim, the
Board of Engineering strongly urges all Employers, Agents, Developers,
Entrepreneurs, Designers, and Constructors to hire, employ, contract, or
otherwise ensure that only Registered Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago,
or individuals acceptable to the Board, are engaged for professional
engineering works in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Board of Engineering has been regulating the practice of engineering
in Trinidad and Tobago for 20 years. It is responsible for assessing
whether an applicant qualifies for registration, keeps a register of all
registered members in Trinidad and Tobago, and can take disciplinary
action against any registered engineer who breaches the provisions of
the Board’s Code of Ethics.
At the end of 2004, the
Board had 794 active engineers on its register. |
