The establishment of the Building Construction Authority aimed to enhance regulatory oversight within the construction industry. I was assigned the responsibility of drafting the Building and Construction Authority Act, and I recall a robust discussion with parliamentary members during the committee stage. Representatives from both political parties, along with figures like Andre Pizzuto, the president of Kamra tal-Periti, and Marthese Portelli, who now serves as the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce but then represented the Malta Developers Association, contributed numerous valuable suggestions. Our focus was on meticulously reviewing each definition within the act to ensure seamless alignment when the corresponding regulations (legal notices) would be introduced. The initiation of the Building Construction Authority came in response to a directorate that had operated for years with limited resources.
Recent reports indicate that the authority is taking steps to strengthen enforcement, which is encouraging news. However, it’s important not to assume that construction incidents will cease entirely. Such a belief would be unrealistic. Enforcing officers cannot be present at every construction site. Instead, best practices must be embraced by those directly involved in the field.
This leads me to reiterate two essential points persistently:
Firstly, architects need to offer explicit instructions and specifications, supported by intricate drawings, after fully grasping the site’s characteristics, the neighbouring structures, and the proposed construction layout, all from the vantage points of load-bearing capacity and structural stability. This assertion is indisputable.
However, successful implementation of these specifications depends on a skilled workforce that can grasp and execute them. On-site laborers who struggle to communicate with architects, let alone interpret the provided drawings, are a big issue.
Despite the commendable strides made by the Building Construction Authority in bolstering oversight, no enforcement officer can unilaterally ensure this result. What’s required is a workforce attuned to architects’ intentions, capable of translating instructions into practical actions that account for load dynamics at every construction phase. This proactive approach is essential to pre-empt potential instabilities that could lead to fatal consequences.
