The recently established National Building Council (NBC) on Wednesday reminded Members of Parliament that each of the recommendations made by the board of inquiry which looked into the death of Jean Paul Sofia, "warrants a thorough and deliberate" discussion.
In a statement ahead of tomorrow's sitting in Parliament, where Opposition Leader Bernard Grech will be presenting a no-confidence motion in three Ministers - Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Miriam Dalli and Silvio Schembri after the findings of the public inquiry, the NBC expressed its position, saying that each recommendation needs discussions aiming to refine the industry's integrity and efficacy, rather than for political gains.
The National Building Council is a joint initiative launched by the Chamber of Architects and the Malta Developers Association with the aim to set higher standards in the construction and development industry.
"Our focus is narrowed on the third request of the motion, demanding the implementation of all recommendations issued by the Board of Inquiry within a six-month period," the NBC said, adding that indeed, a significant number of these recommendations are practical for enactment in the near term, with various others underway.
However, the Council said that it is imperative that every facet and potential impact is understood, to ensure that the recommendations are integrated into the system judiciously.
"The National Building Council underscores the critical importance of formulating a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan-a roadmap that goes beyond the immediate recommendations of the Inquiry," it said.
Such a plan must take a holistic view, considering not only the immediate future but also looking towards the decades to come, the NBC continued.
It said that the plan should envisage the sustainable evolution of the industry, anchoring its progress in innovation, safety, and environment.
The Council said that it is prepared to collaborate with all parties involved, both from government and the Opposition, with the intent to partake in a constructive dialogue that furthers the industry's quality and standards.
"We must not lose sight of the fact that our sector is a formidable pillar of our nation's economy, providing livelihoods to over 40,000 individuals. As such, the adoption of any reformative measures should be contemplated with acute awareness of their long-term ramifications," the NBC said.
The Council warned that rushed reforms could inadvertently lead to complexity, bureaucracy and more incidents that impede rather than advance collective objectives.
It continued that the government's imperative in the reform is to dismantle any superfluous bureaucracy elements, and ensure a robust knowledge base about the sector across all involved entities.
The Council said that architects must be liberated from the "onerous burden" of excessive administrative responsibilities, so that they are allowed to focus their attention to the specialized work that defines their profession and not be constrained to "paper-pushing."
The NBC insisted that a more measured approach is needed to reform that accounts for the intricacies of the sector and respects the expertise of its professionals.