The Kamra tal-Periti welcomes the recent listing of licensed masons published on the website of the Building Regulation Office (BRO), according to a press statement the association of Maltese architects sent to Business Malta. The Kamra says they had been requesting this feature for years.
The Code of Police Laws stipulates that it is not lawful to exercise masonry without a licence, which requires to give assurance to the architect in charge of the project and confirms that such a person is qualified to carry out such operations as having received the appropriate training.
“If any mason, through unskilfulness, imprudence or carelessness, shall, in the construction of any work entrusted to him, and appertaining to his trade, cause any injury to any person or property, it shall be lawful for the Court of Magistrates to interdict such mason from the exercise of his trade for any time to be stated in the sentence, ordering, at the same time, the withdrawal of the licence,” The Code of Police states, according to the Kamra press release. Therefore, the responsibilities arising out of the code are clear and no lesser legal instrument can be used to infer otherwise, the association says.
In addition, the publication of the list is welcome and it is expected that the BRO will not permit works to continue on any site where masons are found not to be on the list, the Kamra underscores.
Moreover, the Civil Code places the onus for the structural integrity jointly on the architect and the contractor. The Building Regulation Act also places the obligation on the BRO to issue licences and registration of masons, fire consultants, other consultants in the building industry, building contractors and tradespeople, the press statement says, the Kamra reminds.
The Kamra tal-Periti held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Friday, June 21, to discuss the state of the Maltese construction industry, after the review of the Avoidance of Damage to Third Party Property Regulations draft and the interruption of all demolition and excavation activities on 13 June 2019. The Kamra says this very EGM was the largest in the history of its existence. This meeting was attended by approximately 400 architects, declaring the urgent intervention of the government in order to collaborate with the Kamra and to ensure the safety of people as a first priority.
In fact, after the EGM and following discussions, the Kamra tal-Periti reiterates its willingness to support the Maltese government in setting up systems for the registration and licensing of contractors in accordance with the BRO’s obligations as set out in the Building Regulation Act, according to the press release.
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