If you’re a contractor or a builder, heads up.
New legislation has been approved that has everything to do with what you do for a living.
Members of the Legislative Assembly last week approved the Builder Law, which will regulate businesses and individual workers.
Basically we needed the bill because after Hurricane Ivan left us devastated in September 2004 some heartless and ruthless contractors and builders gave the industry a black eye.
In more instances than we care to remember helpless business and homeowners contracted with those offering repair services only to give up a hefty deposit and not get the work done.
Or some unethical builders and contractors would do the work but charge exorbitant prices.
It was a miserable time when we were all trying to rebuild not only our homes and businesses, but our lives.
The unethical business practices of some contractors and builders left us all with a bad taste.
The law doesn’t become enforceable until next January, so builders and contractors have time to get their houses in order.
From a glance at the law it will make getting a licence to perform building work more difficult, hopefully weeding out those who do shoddy work or employ unethical practices.
What we don’t see, as Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush rightfully pointed out in LA, are penalties for those contractors and builders who do bad work.
We’re sure that even with the stringent rules in place, some unethical workers that do bad jobs will slip through the cracks.
But legislation that aims to improve and set higher standards for construction and development is not only needed, but welcome.
Sure there will be some growing pains once the legislation kicks in, but we’re sure the legitimate builders and contractors in the Cayman Islands will embrace the changes.
Unfortunately the law doesn’t become enforceable until well after this year’s hurricane season.
We pray we don’t have a repeat of 2004 – either of bad weather or unethical builders and contractors.
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