Welcome! I take this opportunity as the Chairman of the Board of Engineering to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year. As per the mandate of the Engineering Profession Act (EPA) No. 22 of 2002 we who form the Board has the responsibility to regulate the profession and in so doing we are guided by clause 10 of the same Act in disbursing the following functions, namely:
- To assess the qualification and experience of persons applying for registration as registered engineers;
- To conduct examinations of persons applying for registration as registered engineers;
- To register engineers and organizations engaging in engineering work and to issue certificates of registration to engineers and certificate of authorization to organizations;
- To monitor adherence to and investigate breaches of the Code of Ethics;
- To exercise disciplinary control over registered engineers;
- To publish by Notice in the Gazette for public scrutiny, in a format to be decided by the Board, a list of qualifications and institutions recognized by the Board in respect of the engineering training required by this Act;
- To advise the Minister respecting amendments to this Act or the making of Regulations or Orders to be made under this Act; and
- Generally, to regulate the practice of engineering in accordance with this Act and Regulations made thereunder.
These functions of the Board are quite clear, and pragmatic and we strive to uphold the same.
During the eighteen (18) years of the existence of the Board of Engineering much work has been undertaken in the reviewing the Act with a view to bringing it up to date as well as harmonizing the relevant clauses with those of CARICOM while protecting the profession locally. The proposed amendments to the Act are now under their final review by an attorney-at-law prior to submission to the Minister.
Other areas of work includes the identification of a suitable location for the establishment of a permanent office, review and update of the list of institutions of higher learning, development of the Board of Engineering’s website, the pursuit of synergy with relevant government institutions in assisting with the upholding of the requirements of the Act for engineering organizations among other pertinent tasks geared at strengthening the profession in accordance with international and regional best practices.
On the Board of Engineering performing its mandate as provided under the Act, the proper representation of engineers’ continuously evolving needs towards enhancing the profession must always be considered. As such, perpetual synergy is established with the Dominica Association of Professional Engineers (DAPE). Thus, any proposal, amendment, regulation and the like that the BOE is considering, must have input from the DAPE.
For the next two and a half years, it is anticipated that the BOE and DAPE will diligently work together to regulate, promote, and enhance the engineering profession for all engineers.
With wishes of peace profound.
G-d bless!
JGKase