Ministry of Transportation & Works

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Raymond Silvera (right), Chairman of the Communication Committee of the Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB) and Project Manager for the Parish Infrastructure Development Programme addressing members of the Incorporated Master Builders Association on the role of PERB. Sitting beside him is Mr. Don Mullings, Head of the Association.

Regulations aimed at establishing a code of professional conduct for registered engineers as well as to make mandatory, the use of professional seals by such persons, are being developed for passage in Parliament by the first quarter of 2004.

This was stated by Raymond Silvera, Chairman of the Communication Committee of the Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB), when he addressed Executive Council members of the Incorporated Master Builders Association, recently.

The master builders have expressed concern at the poor quality of engineering work produced occasionally, even among engineers who have been registered by PERB to practise.

PERB is the body set up by government under the Ministry of Transportation and Works, to regulate the practice of engineering in Jamaica.

Mr. Silvera pointed out that the two regulations would support PERB's drive, "to better regulate the practice of engineering within the island".

He noted that the code of professional conduct would establish certain guidelines against which, breaches and unethical practices would be judged. He added that the offending person would be subject to "such disciplinary actions or removal of certification to practise engineering", as might be applicable in the particular circumstances.

"The code will enable the public to have some recourse in the event that an engineer is at fault in fairly or competently carrying out his duty as an engineer," Mr. Silvera said.

Currently, the level of fines for offences under the Professional Engineers Registration Act is deemed to be woefully inadequate and the Board is seeking to have these revised to meaningful levels. As such, PERB has made a submission to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in this regard.

The Board is seeking an increase in the fines imposed on any member or employee of an organisation who practises in breach of the Act, from $1,000.00 to $10,000.00. It is also proposing that fines for practising engineering without being registered be increased from $2,000.00 and $5,000.00 in the first and second instance respectively, to $25,000.00 and $50,000.00.

Additionally, it has proposed that fines being imposed on persons practising following suspension or cancellation of their registration with PERB, be increased from $5,000.00 to $50,000.00.

In regard to the use of seals on documents produced by registered engineers, Mr. Silvera pointed out that the regulation, when passed, would make its use a mandatory requirement.

He observed that although PERB issued seals to engineers registered with the Board, these were not being used. "The signing and sealing of documents by a registered engineer certifies that the work to which the document relates has been completely and adequately performed," he pointed out.

Mr. Silvera noted that the regulation concerning the use of seals would, among other things, require that all relevant documents, drawings, specifications, plans and reports pertaining to engineering and developed by or under the technical authority of a registered engineer be appropriately sealed, "using the sealing device provided by PERB".

Additionally, key organisations responsible for carrying out or approving engineering works, "should ensure that seals are used in appropriate instances".
Further, seals would remain the property of the Board and "will be withdrawn if the registration has been cancelled, suspended or otherwise lapsed".

Mr. Silvera added that persons contravening the provisions regarding the use of seals would be guilty of an offence and would therefore be subjected to prosecution as provided for under the Professional Engineers Registration Act.

He pointed out that organisations and individuals wishing to contract the services of an engineer could obtain the list of persons who are registered to practise, at the PERB offices at 2 Winchester Road in Kingston. Persons could also request this list via the e-mail at www.perbjamaica.org.

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