Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1257572
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 JUNE 2020 NEWS Kamra tal-Periti publishes final proposals for building and construction regulation framework PAUL COCKS IN May 2019, the Kamra tal-Periti had published its draft proposals for a modern build- ing and construction regulation framework. These were presented to all industry stakeholders, includ- ing the Chamber of Engineers, the Chamber of Commerce, the Building Industry Consultative Council, the Building Regulation Board, the Building Regulation Office, the Building and Con- struction Agency, the Planning Authority, the Malta Developers Association, and the Malta In- surers Association. All these entities and organ- isations endorsed the Kamra's proposals and there is therefore industry-wide consensus that such proposals are both neces- sary and desirable. The proposals were also pre- sented to the government, the opposition and the European Commission. Through a Let- ter of Commitment issued in August 2019, the government finally recognised the need for a comprehensive reform of the building and construction in- dustry, and committed itself to implement the Kamra's propos- als. After having taken on board all the feedback received over the past 12 months, the Kam- ra tal-Periti has now published the final version of its proposals. These are focused around ten main principles, namely: 1. The separation of planning permit and building per- mit processes; 2. Clear well-organised regu- latory processes designed to promote public safety and quality, in the interest of the consumer, rather than being focused on as- cribing blame post-acci- dent; 3. Clear distinction between the regulations governing building (the permanent works) and those govern- ing construction processes and temporary works; 4. The proposed Building and Construction Author- ity (BCA) is to take on the consolidated role of the assessment of buildings, building authorisations, enforcement, and mon- itoring of the construc- tion processes, with the 22 public entities hitherto entrusted with the differ- ent areas of interest, be- coming key stakeholders in the drafting of regula- tions and guidance docu- ments; 5. Major projects and public buildings to be subjected to an independent review, particularly in terms of structural design and fire engineering through the introduction of a new pro- fessional figure (Engineer- ing Auditor); 6. Contractors are to have the specific skills required, and to be classified and li- censed according to such skills – they will be solely responsible for the process of construction, includ- ing temporary works, and would therefore have full possession of construction sites for the duration of the works; 7. The enforcement of con- struction regulations to be delegated to private service providers – referred to as Building and Construc- tion Inspectors (BCIs) – li- censed by the BCA; 8. Contractors to be required to certify that the execut- ed works comply with the design instructions, and with the requirements of the Construction Products Directive; 9. The construction phase will be concluded by the issuance by the BCA of a Compliance Certificate, which, inter alia, authoris- es that the building can be brought into use; and 10. Post-occupancy checks and audits to be under- taken as predetermined by the BCA to ensure the continued compliance of the structure with building regulations. The launch of these proposals is not the end of a process. It is the beginning of a new era in the building and construction in- dustry. COVID-19 has highlighted the lack of sustainability of our pre- vious ways – now is the perfect opportunity to look to the future with a new vision … a vision that is more sustainable, that still fo- cuses on economic progress but that places more emphasis on safety and quality. The Kamra tal-Periti says it remains fully committed to en- sure that these proposals are implemented and assures Gov- ernment of its full cooperation in achieving this leap forward, bringing the industry firmly and squarely into the 21st century. MATTHEW VELLA A far-right protest that was allowed to take place behind a police cordon had no official permit was illegal. The Malta Police Force confirmed that the only permit secured for a mass gathering in Valletta had been by Integra Foundation, one of the convenors of the Justice for Lassa- na memorial and Black Lives Matter event. The counter-protest was attended by just under 40 people, but was vocally vitriolic at the hundreds of activists who reacted with dignified shows of placards and silence. The protest appeared to be led by two frontmen: former police sergeant Raymond Ambrogio, who recently led a group from far-right party Moviment Patriotti Maltin in an impromptu protest on the Sette Gi- ugno monument after Malta disembarked 425 migrants rescued by the AFM; and No- ah's Ark zoo owner Anton Cutajar, who has published numerous livestreams on Face- book encouraging people to protest human rights activists. Photos from the event posted on social media also show one of the activists per- forming a Hitler salute, while another pro- testor, a bouncer employed at the Havana club in Paceville known as Tony 'it-Tiger' making offensive ape-like gestures at the ac- tivists and people of colour during the event. Members from the far-right party Impe- rium Europa, whose leader Norman Lowell is an avowed holocaust-denier, were also present. Even during a symbolic kneel at the end of the memorial, the far-right activists booed at what was supposed to be a solemn mo- ment remembering George Floyd, mur- dered in Minneapolis by a police officer, and Lassana Cisse, an Ivorian worker killed by two maltese soldiers in a drive-by shooting in Birżebbuġa in 2019. Investigating officers have described the shooting a racially motivated murder. Two men are charged with the murder and the compilation of evidence is ongoing. The protest on Monday on the back of government's tough stand on migration, which left hundreds of people rescued at sea, detained on Captain Morgan pleasure boats outside territorial waters for more than a month. Government eventually gave in and al- lowed the 425 migrants to disembark on Saturday after people driven by despair mounted an attempt to commandeer the boats and threatened crew members. Far-rightists had no police permit for BlackLivesMatter counter-protest