Gov’t shelves debate on Engineers Bill, amid opposition concerns

Last Updated on Sunday, 16 February 2025, 23:14 by Writer

-Patterson-Mahipaul amendments propose specific roles for engineers, architects

In the wake of the political opposition’s proposed amendments to the draft legislation to regulate civil engineers, the Guyana government has decided not to go ahead with Monday’s debate on the Engineers Bill, government and opposition lawmakers said.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill told Demerara Waves Online News that moves were being made to address issues that were raised about the proposed legislation that was tabled in the National Assembly on December 18, 2024. “There is a number of commentaries that I have received, as the custodian of the Bill, that I’m in discussion with my colleagues and a course of action would be taken that is most appropriate to ensure that the concerns that are raised are weighed for their proper place so I don’t think there will be a debate on the Bill t0morrow,” he said.

Shadow Public Works Minister, David Patterson also confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News that the Bill would not be debated on Monday when it is called up on the Order Paper. He said the decision was communicated to the opposition after several proposed amendments were circulated. “We told them that it’s inappropriate to go ahead in its current format,” Mr Patterson added.

The parliamentary opposition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) on Saturday publicly called for the Engineers Bill, designed to regulate the profession, to be sent to a bipartisan parliamentary select committee to benefit from updated consultations with stakeholders including the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) and the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology.

In line with opposition concerns, the APNU+AFC’s parliamentarians, Mr Patterson and Ganesh Mahipaul co-sponsored several proposed amendments including removing the role of the Public Works Minister in appointing a Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Engineering Registration Board. Instead, the opposition wants those appointments to be made by the board members at their first meeting.

The opposition also wants the board rather than the minister to appoint the Registrar of Engineers and determine that person’s terms and conditions of employment. Further, APNU+AFC is proposing that the Bill provides for the establishment of a committee comprising representatives of the Engineering Board, industry stakeholders and legal professionals to interpret and resolve any disputes regarding the use of the term “engineer” in job titles and business names.

If APNU+AFC gets its way, the Engineering Registration Board will have to publish on its website an alphabetical list of all engineers who are in good standing for that year, and publish the name of any member, who has been struck off, in at least two newspapers in wide circulation.

The Patterson-Mahipaul amendments also propose specific and detailed responsibilities for engineers and architects.