UIA Press Release: Institute of Architects Pakistan Flood Relief Fund

Author: UIA General Secretariat

The Institute of Architects of Pakistan Disaster Relief Fund requests contributions.

Donations can be directly transferred into the IAP Flood Relief Account:

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Fund Account No. 1005-0081-024396-02-7

Bank Al Habib

Zamzama Branch, DHA,

Karachi 75500

Pakistan

SWIFT CODE: BAHLPKKA

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Contributors may also ‘adopt’ a village or contribute a house – for further information, please read attached press release.

Contact:

Shahab Ghani Khan

President, Institute of Architects, Pakistan (IAP)

president@iap.com.pk

www.iap.com.pk

The UIA is grateful for the wide dissemination of the attached press release.

For more information, read or download this document:

PAkistan_EN

Trinidad and Tobago’s Construction’s fragile state causes worry

Published: 24 Aug 2010

Author:

The President, Arch. Mark Raymond
Trinidad & Tobago Institute of Architects

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Architects are deeply concerned about the current fragile state of the construction sector.

At the commencement of the recent boom, the last administration initiated projects and engaged the construction sector only to peremptorily drop it in favour of foreign consultants and contractors. Through a mystifying array of agencies and practices, massive and often poorly conceived projects were awarded to these foreign contractors and consultants as part of a reckless and largely uncoordinated strategy conceived without any consultation or coherent plan. The fiasco that followed and the opposition with which these initiatives were met culminated with the tin-pot “war” that former Prime Minster Patrick Manning declared on the construction sector in March of this year. It is hard to conceive of a more wasteful or destructive mode of physical development and planning.

The period will go down in history as one characterised by a flagrant and arrogant abuse by the State of its powers, monumental squandering of the public purse and the unprecedented deliberate and malicious marginalisation of an essential national resource in the form of the construction sector. We are now experiencing the legacy of this “policy”—if the reckless expenditure of billions of dollars on such grandiose projects can be termed a policy. It is a legacy which has left architects, engineers, surveyors, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers decimated. The impact of this contempt for and deliberate undermining of the sector has been compounded by the deterioration of the economy and this together with widespread global economic uncertainty has resulted in a dramatic slow down with particularly devastating consequences.

Whilst this is a sector in which seasoned stakeholders plan and allow for the peaks and troughs that inevitably characterise the economics of physical development, the current predicament is perilous as the numerous businesses, professionals and workers employed in the sector—and many of whom are owed significant and long outstanding sums by the State—struggle daily to keep afloat. The livelihoods of around seventy thousand people employed in a previously vibrant and dynamic sector are under serious and imminent threat. This is not a short term issue. The construction sector is a significant asset that we cannot afford to neglect because of past blunders or economic expediency. The sector is looking to the Government to enter into dialogue, take decisive action and to address the dire predicament as a matter of urgency.

It is widely recognised that the current administration has a great deal of clearing up to do, State owned agencies and special purpose entities have generated large and conspicuous holes in the economy. It is also understood that large scale construction projects are unlikely to be on the agenda in the immediate future. However, if growth cannot be immediately assured, in its attempt to get the economy back on track, the Government must move to at least stimulate activity—if only to ensure short to medium term sustainability and avoid the complete collapse and depletion of a valuable national resource and asset. The Government needs to demonstrate good governance, generate confidence, encourage investment and work with construction sector organisations to address means of ensuring the sustainability of the sector. This needs to be done as a matter of urgency.

There are a number of ways in which the government might consider advancing this:

• Active consultation with all construction sector stakeholders.
• Prompt implementation of best practice procurement policy.
• Economic stimulus plan to generate activity in construction sector.
• Settle the substantial debts owed to architects, consultant teams and contractors, who have invested heavily in the process of development and who have been left out to dry.

Mikey Joseph—president of the Contractor’s Association recently revealed the amount of money owed to the construction sector by Government as being in the region of $ 1.6 billion. Included in this staggering figure is money owed to architects and other professional consultants—to be paid for work completed is not an unreasonable expectation. In the Uff report, in which the appalling and shameful performance of Udecott was so painfully exposed, Professor Uff’s commission was also invited to comment on the local construction sector. The report makes patently made clear the satisfaction of the Commission with the capability of the sector to perform at a high level. It is of course accepted that the sector is not without its flaws and as with all sectors of society, any new thrust whether directed towards growth or sustainability can and must incorporate responsive and continuous reform and improvement to maintain and improve standards.

The construction capability which the Uff report affirms however remains intact and available to serve the interests of national development. Debts must be promptly settled and through consultation, informed dialogue and creative thinking the means of achieving sustainable development collectively pursued.

Mark Raymond
President—Trinidad & Tobago Institute of Architects

Construction Industry Commission of Inquiry report handed over to the President

The Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Sector, Professor John Uff today handed in his report on the construction sector and Udecott to the President of Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, police probes of the state enterprise and its former executive chairman John Calder Hart continue.

Uff ‘s report was handed over to President George Maxwell Richards at the Winsure Building, Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, at 11.30 am.

The submission of the report is the culmination of the inquiry process which began in April 2008 when Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley was sacked as Trade and Industry Minister after he raised concerns over Udecott. Rowley, as well as several organizations including the Chambers of Commerce, the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry, the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects and others — called for a commission of inquiry into Udecott, however, this was initially resisted by Prime Minister Patrick Manning. Prime Minister Patrick Manning later agreed to an inquiry but expanded its terms of reference to cover the construction industry in Trinidad and Tobago.

Lawyers have stated yesterday that while inquiry reports are normally tabled in Parliament, there is no stipulation that this is the only way in which they are to be made public. The Commission of Inquiry Act is silent on what is to happen to a report after it is handed in to the President, leaving the manner of dissemination of the report open to the State.

The inquiry had a budgeted cost of about $20 million according to Budget documents tabled last year and the hearings saw unprecedented levels of public interest which were broadcast live and covered extensively by the media. An internet website was also set up for members of the public to access information in relation to the proceedings.

The inquiry has been dogged by concerns over the failure of Udecott lawyers to disclose documents in their entity and to meet deadlines set out by the commissions. Wrangling between lawyers representing parties including those of Dr. Rowley, extended the inquiry.

Udecott lawyers, led by British QC Andrew Goddard, also launched lawsuits against the proceedings during hearings one of which challenged the proceedings on the basis of apparent bias of the commissioners. The challenge was thrown out this month by Justice Mira Dean-Armorer who also ruled that she had no basis to stay the commission from submitting a final report to President Maxwell Richards.

Udecott chairman Calder Hart resigned his position at Udecott on March 6 some days after documents linking him to Malaysian firm Sunway Construction Caribbean Limited emerged, after being obtained by the Congress of the People (COP). On the same day of his resignation, Caldar Hart left the country and it is assumed that he may be in the UK presently, however efforts by law officers to contact him have failed.

During the hearings, questions about the practices at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) also emerged with key staff at the HDC resigning during the proceedings. In the final analysis, it seemed that the evidence about the projects themselves and in particular the testimony of Canadian born John Calder Hart, generated the most public concerns.

During the inquiry, it was also discovered that the inquiry had not been gazetted by the relevant authorities under the terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act. Professor John Uff insisted that notwithstanding the error, the inquiry was valid under the common-law. Government then tabled legislation to overcome this oversight.

The Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects hopes that the Report on the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Sector can be made public without further delay.

Newsday report

TT Guardian report

Trinidad Express report

Press Release: Haiti shelter cluster reaches nearly one million people

Haiti shelter cluster reaches nearly a million people in one of the fastest shelter-relief operations of recent years
24 March 2010

Port-au-Prince (24 March 2010) – Three quarters of the 1.3 million homeless people in the Haitian quake zone have now received emergency-shelter materials (tarpaulins, tents and toolkits) ten weeks after the disaster that left much of the south of the country in ruins.

The number of people reached by what is now a total of more than 50 agencies distributing shelter-relief materials under cluster coordination is 976,775 – just past the 75 per cent mark.

The shelter cluster, which is coordinated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is on course to reach 100 per cent coverage by 1 May – the original target date and the start of the peak month of the Haitian rainy season.

“We’ve been reaching very nearly 100,000 people a week on average since the quake,” said Gregg McDonald, leader of the IFRC cluster-coordination team.

“However, shelter relief did not really begin in Haiti until after the search and rescue phase was over.

“If we average the response from the beginning of the third week after the disaster, the cluster has been reaching more than 122,000 people a week.”

After Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, where the estimated total in need of shelter relief was 2.4 million people, the 50 per cent coverage mark was reached after 12 weeks, at an average of just over 100,000 people a week, according to new data compiled by the shelter cluster.

Shelter agencies reached an average of 75,000 people a week with emergency relief after the earthquake in Padang, Indonesia, last year, including the search and rescue phase.

After the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake in Indonesia, shelter-relief coverage averaged 98,900 a week, also including the search and rescue phase.

“The challenges in Haiti have been huge,” McDonald adds. “Loss of key government agencies, shortage of transport, rubble in the streets, security issues.

“Against that backdrop, this is a considerable achievement, and a reflection of the way agencies involved have pulled together.”

Emergency-shelter distribution is just one part of the drive to help quake-affected people survive the looming rainy season. Measures being pursued by other clusters as part of the wider disaster-preparedness effort in Haiti include:

• Structural assessment of houses that may be safe to return to
• Relocation of displaced people to safe sites away from flood zones
• Clearance of municipal drains in Port-au-Prince
• Improved drainage and flood-resistant sanitation in existing camps.

“It’s exactly because the rainy season is fast approaching that agencies continue to deliver emergency shelter as quickly as possible,” said McDonald. “We’re determined to get to full coverage before 1 May, if not sooner.”

“The rains are going to have a massive impact, and things are going to get worse before they get better.”

“Everyone involved in this response needs to do their utmost to make sure people are as prepared as they can be for what is going to be a very tough rainy season.”

Several agencies working with the shelter cluster have now developed prototype “transitional” houses – small, mainly wood-frame structures that can be built cheaply and easily, and potentially in large numbers.

But of the few sites identified by the Haitian government for potential resettlement, none is yet available for building.

The link to this press release is http://www.ifrc.org/Docs/News/pr10/2010.asp

For more information on shelter coordination in Haiti see www.shelterhaiti.org

Developing Winning Proposals: A Preproposal Checklist

Writing a winning proposal involves selecting a proposal manager who can effectively sell the firm’s services, skillfully coordinate the firm’s effort, and intuitively think like the firm’s client. Asking (and answering) important questions about a firm’s staff, coordination efforts, and communication protocols will help to fine-tune the proposal planning process.

AIA Best Practices – Winning Proposals

Water Conservation: An Urgent Message for Caribbean Island States and others

With many Caribbean island states and Guyana now suffering from serious drought and island states now implementing measures to counteract its effects on our populations, the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects sees the need to distribute this message on water conservation.

Download the Water PDF here

The Tragedy and Hidden History of the National Academy for the Performing Arts

Author: Rubadiri Victor

The National Academy for the Performing Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (NAPA) has been shrouded in controversy from conception to opening with different constituencies weighing in on its merits and flaws. Artist/activist Rubadiri Victor attempts to analyse NAPA through its construction process, as a building, and as a facility which should have held the Dreams and Aspirations of a Legacy-rich cultural community. He finds it compromised in its facilities as both an Academy and a National Performing Arts Centre but attempts to unearth the opportunity it holds as a phenomenon.

The Sorrowful Tour
On Sunday 17th January 2010 4 generations of theatre and dance practitioners gathered at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) for a seminar entitled The Way Forward- part of this exercise involved a tour of the NAPA facility for the first time by the stakeholders who are supposed to be its most important tenants. What followed was one of the saddest journeys that many of us have ever embarked on. What should have been a tour full of wonder and joy upon revelation instead was more like the sorrow of a 2nd generation Jew visiting a concentration camp.

During the tour one could hear the muttering of disbelief, the exclamations of horror, and sometimes peals of laughter on the unveiling of each room. One could see- particularly in elder practitioners- the almost teary eyed resignation as they shook their heads in disbelief. The words on everyone’s lips were, “How could they get it so wrong!!!” None of us had ever been consulted or listened to for the entire construction process and this abomination was the sad result. We had for years received the reports of deficient specs in NAPA, but it was nothing compared to actually seeing it. Hundreds of millions of dollars spent on un-useable spaces.

Because of this I am now prepared to concede that it may be more feasible to give the entire NAPA facility over to being a hotel and that another site be sought to construct a proper School for the Arts and a National Performing Arts Centre. NAPA is completely unsuited for either function and will cost too much to convert it into such. There are precedents for hotels with Performing Arts stages attached to them- ala Las Vegas- and probably this is what NAPA is best used for. It is completely unfit as an Academy and a Performing Arts Centre. That is the tragedy we are faced with.

The tragedy and hidden history of NAPA