The proposed regulations for the licensing of the construction industry lack clarity, ADPD-The Green Party said Saturday, as they fail to give due weight to the data that the Building and Construction Authority collates on a regular basis from various construction sites following incidents or complaints it investigated.

Addressing a press conference outside the building which collapsed in Kordin last December, killing 20-year-old Jean Paul Sofia, ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that that the draft regulations for the licensing of operators in the construction industry do not seem to have taken into consideration the wider implications of the actions by those who seek such licensing. While the police conduct certificate is being requested as part of the documentation needed to apply for any of the three licence types, the proposed regulations do not spell out how the information obtained in this certificate will be taken into consideration in the licensing process.

The proposed regulations do not even consider the reports that the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) collates on complaints and incidents at various constructions sites. These reports on licence subjects would have been drawn up by Authority officials following incidents investigated and complaints received followed by the action taken, where necessary.

This information cannot be ignored at the initial licence processing or renewal stage. About this the draft regulations remain mum. It is not acceptable that this is completely ignored. If this is the case then a repetition of the same actions is guaranteed; the message being that it’s as if nothing happened, Cacopardo said This is certainly the case where past performance is actually a guarantee of future results; hence why these reports should be given their due weight prior to a licence being issued or renewed. The proposed regulations ignore this completely. This matter must be addressed. Otherwise the licensing process will not make an iota of difference.

It is imperative that the impact of construction on third parties is considered in the issuing and renewal of licences through the consideration of any incident reported in the records of the BCA  before any decision on any licence is taken.

Too many operators in the construction industry fail to respect residents. Indeed they consider them as a hindrance. This is an area which can be addressed in an effective manner through the licensing process,  and possibly lead to a reduction of the negative impact of construction on residents.

However,  even on this aspect the draft regulations on the licensing of the construction industry remain silent. Another lost opportunity.