Construction industry urged to rethink approach
- Key players in the construction sector throughout the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have been urged to move towards the more cost effective approach of accessing wider markets through collaboration with other OECS Member States.
Senior Director at the OECS Secretariat Randy Cato made the suggestion on Thursday during a meeting of representatives from Ministries of Public Works and Physical Planning Departments and other entities involved in providing construction-related services in the OECS.
“We have tended by and large to neglect the opportunities available in sister islands by failing to identify ways to access those opportunities. This is a message particularly for the private sector. We have got to stop thinking too that the limits of what we can do rest solely at the shores of individual Member States. The OECS Economic Union is an opportunity to move beyond that. Take advantage of it.”
Cato told Wednesday’s regional consultation on a Draft Strategy for Development of the OECS Construction Sector about the advantages the construction sector can gain through joint action as is facilitated by the OECS Economic Union.
“Our deeper economic integration affords construction sector firms the opportunity to combine capacities in order to respond to emerging market opportunities in a manner that would hopefully result in a larger share of public and private sector contracts being awarded to pan-OECS Alliances between our contractors and service providers.
“The creation of the single economic space afforded by the OECS Economic Union can hold particular benefits for our construction sector enterprises; whether these be architects, engineers, contractors, even providers of building supplies,” he noted.
St. Lucia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport, Philip J. Pierre commended the OECS for the focus on the construction sector.
“We must ensure that the sector is given adequate support as the other productive sectors of tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. We must provide sustained emphasis for the development of the construction sector. Our arrangements must have the necessary thoughtfulness and pragmatism required to drive a modern, efficient, and affordable construction industry.”
Pierre who is also Deputy Prime Minister , also proposed the establishment of Council of OECS Ministers for Infrastructure.
“The establishment of an OECS Council of Infrastructure Ministers will be a progressive step. By giving issues related to construction a higher profile, we will lead the foundation for a renewed more powerful and more integrated process of infrastructure developments. In this regard there must be no impediments to the movement of skilled labour in the OECS,” Pierre said.
The consultation is seeking to adopt a regional approach to development of the construction sector in the OECS, based on a submitted draft report of a consultancy commissioned by the OECS Secretariat, and supported with grant funding from the World Bank.
The successful implementation of the OECS construction sector strategy is expected to have a positive impact on other productive and social sectors in the regional economy, and will enhance the prospects for boosting the economic growth and competitiveness of OECS Member States.
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| Date Posted | December 09 2012 |