LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has highlighted the need for quality of workmanship as a critical factor in the safety of buildings.
Speaking in Parliament on the National Building Standards Bill 2025, Hon Wale said, there is a critical need to have a body that regulates and disciplines building practitioners to ensure that they are compliant in their trades.
The Opposition Leader said this is important to the overall goal of ensuring building standards are maintained.
“Of course, building practitioners comprise a number of trades with their own specializations like carpentry, civil and structural engineering, plumbing, welding, electricals, fire, architects, and so forth.”
Hon Wale said the training in such trades, certification, accreditation, are all important to maintaining high standards in each.
He said a robust system to create apprenticeships for each trade is essential to maintaining high standards.
“These require much more work to be undertaken to properly set up trades bodies to take up the responsibilities for each.”
The Opposition Leader said opportunities offered under APTC and PALM could be exploited to meet some these needs.
He adds the Government should collaborate with our partners to assist us in that matter.