Architects to be registered under proposed legislation

| 29/08/2014 | 1 Comment

(CNS Business): Proposal legislation would require architects and engineers in the Cayman Islands to be registered, and they would also then be required, for the first time in this jurisdiction, to have professional indemnity insurance. Currently this is not mandatory as it is in other places, such as the UK and the US.

This would be a good thing, according to chartered surveyor Kevin Drysdale, GM of Charterland. This means that people building a structure will not be able to engage architects and engineers unless they have been registered and therefore have the comfort of knowing that they have the required level of PI.

“Professional indemnity is very important to you as a client because it protects both your interest and the interest of the designer in the event that there should be something wrong with the design. It means that you don’t have to rely on his ability to finance the repairs that may be required – there is an insurance policy to back that up – but at the same time for the designer – the architect or the engineer – they’re not having to go to bed at night wondering whether a claim against them is going to take everything they have.”

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  1. G. Smith says:

    As a local Architectural Designer, we welcome this advancement within the development industry for all the positive reasons that will be achieved.

    However, the major concern small local operators have is the extreme cost and burden this introduction will have on the bottom line which inevitably will have to be passed on to clients thus creating a dramatic increase in fees for architectural services. Categorisation of projects is necessary with PI being a requirement for the upper-end project classifications only thus keeping the lower-end projects i.e. houses, duplexes, light commercial/industrial, small apartments/condos and other minor projects from the additional cost effects of this proposed requirement.

    The reason can easily be substantiated, for decades 30 to 40 years PI has not been a requirement and was basically optional from architect to architect, firm to firm, or on a per project basis, this approach is still applicably and across the board implementation is unnecessary. All possibilities and options must be explored; the lower-end projects must remain free from this requirement.

    Furthermore, considering the state of the local economy since 2008 a major increase in architectural fees at this time across the board will only serve to stagnate and reverse any hope of an upswing in development which there may have been a glimmer of recently. Moreover, it has recently been reported statistically that there has been around a 40% drop in planning and building permit approvals as compared to the same time last year, which is not a good indication.

    Considering the current state of the global economy and with development being a major-pillar of the local economy further implementation of laws that will inevitably increase fees would definitely deter many would be developers from considering or even viewing the Cayman Islands as an option amongst the many other suitable jurisdictions available for development which are already hampering the Cayman Islands turnaround.

    Can you please elaborate regarding the process involved in registration of architects and engineers in the upcoming proposed draft registration law? How can a copy of the draft proposal be obtained for review and comment?

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