Construction Outlook for 2011
In today's Guardian there's a special section called Building & Construction: Restructuring the Sector. The lead story in this section – Construction Outlook for 2011– was written by acla:works director, Brian Lewis.
Brian begins the article by stating: "We are now witnessing the final stages of the dismantling the construction industry in Trinidad and Tobago as most of the foreign consultants and construction companies close up shop and leave our shores or reduce their operations to a skeleton staff.
A number of established local consulting and contracting companies that were involved in projects during the recent boom have either collapsed or are now working on a 4-day week having laid off staff in an effort to survive the period of markedly reduced construction activity that characterizes the past couple of years. In short, the construction industry has been in a stalled state and this article will look at a few ways it can be jump-started.
Short, medium and long-term strategies will be needed to get the construction industry back to health. Yes, a jump-start is needed to get it going again but not just by injecting money into new projects. The opportunity should be taken for a major overhaul of the industry to enable it to achieve its full potential in the medium to long term."
Brian speaks of this process beginning with "a restoration of trust and confidence in the industry," and continues by providing a ten-point plan for consideration. Points in this plan include: Settle Amounts Owed, Settle Disputes, Establish Dialogue, Implement Uff Recommendations, Sustainable Development, and Policy for Local Content & Participation.
You can read all ten points in plain text via our Publications / Writings section here, or you can read a scan of the article by clicking on the image below or by going to our Publications / Newspapers section here.
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2 comments so far.
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I saw and read the article in the Guardian.
It was very appropriate.
Congratulations to Brian for saying what we all know and feel.
I know that as a board member at UdeCOTT he will be influencing them to put their house in order. -
Thanks for the comment Tony - I will certainly try!
