The Annual General Meeting of the Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association
October 10, 2008
The Annual General Meeting of the Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association (TTCA) was held on Saturday 20th September, 2008, at the Bureau of Standards Building, Trincity Industrial Estate, Macoya.
The highlight of the meeting was the election of officers for the upcoming term.
Mr. Mikey Joseph, Managing Director of Structural and Mechanical Agencies Ltd. was re-elected President of the Association while Mr. Glenn Mahabirsingh, Business Support Manager of West Atlantic Construction Company Ltd. was elected Vice President.
The following persons were elected to the Executive Committee in the capacity of Directors:
Mr. Hugh Schamber - Managing Director, Weathershield Systems Caribbean Ltd.
Mr. Dave Aqui – Chief Executive Officer, Junior Sammy Group of Companies
Mr. Rodney Cowan – Marketing Manager, Trinidad Cement Ltd.
Mr. Jerry Medford – Technical & Support Services Director, Weldfab Ltd.
Mr. Mervyn Chin – Senior Project Manager, Kee-Chanona Ltd.
Mr. Ramlogan Roopnarinesingh – Managing Director, Logan Contracting and Transport Services Ltd.
Mr. Rajendra Maharaj – Concrete Plant Manager, Coosal’s Construction Company Ltd.
Mr. Victor Phillip – Chairman, Inch By Inch Construction and Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Prior to the election of the committee members, Mr. Mikey Joseph, President, announced the appointment of Mr. Neil Marquez to the position of General Manager of the TTCA effective October 01, 2008. Mr. Marquez holds a BA Economics degree from York University, Toronto, Canada and brings to the Association over twenty (20) years experience in the financial services sector which spans both locally and abroad.
In addressing other matters, discussions were held pertaining to legislation that would make the registration and licensing of contractors in Trinidad and Tobago compulsory. In this regard, Mr. Joseph reiterated the fact that the TTCA continues to review similar laws and regulations in other jurisdictions in its efforts to complete a Draft Bill, a responsibility entrusted to the Association by the Oversight Committee for the Construction Sector. He affirmed that this legislation “is very important if we are to develop the industry to international competitiveness.”
Some of the resolutions passed at the AGM were clearly indicative of TTCA’s endorsement of and support for this compulsory licensing and registration through mechanisms to be agreed upon by the Government and the Association. In the interim, until the necessary legislation is brought into Parliament and made law, it was resolved by the Association that a Contractor Certification Committee will be established to ensure that higher standards of performance within the construction industry are met and maintained.
Also discussed was the formation of the Coalition of Caribbean Contractors Association for which a Memorandum of Understanding was recently renewed. An update was provided by the Association’s President who advised that the Contractors Association of Barbados is the latest signatory to this MOU and that Belize is expected to come on board sometime soon. Mr. Joseph assured the attendees that the member Associations “will continue to look at the regional industry and try to forge ways to move forward in developing a holistic link where we can move freely and operate with colleagues at various levels in different islands of the region”.
The meeting was informed that the TTCA was invited to participate in the upcoming Commission of Enquiry into the Construction Industry and UDeCOTT. The Association welcomes the opportunity to be part of this Enquiry and would be seeking the membership’s directions in this regard.
In closing, Mr. Joseph reaffirmed his commitment to taking the Association forward and promised to continue working with his colleagues to bring about the best results for the construction industry. He thanked the Association Members for their attendance and participation while calling on them for their continued support.
Cover of the TTCA
Membership Directory 2008