I have been asked to comment on a statement purportedly released by The Bahamas Institution of Professional Engineers (BIPE), dated September 23, 2003 which came to hand this afternoon (September 28, 2003). The same was unsigned, and no name is identified as being the sender. I assume and therefore accept the same as being genuine.
I am amazed and shocked that BIPE would proclaim that there was no meaningful discussion on the recent professional engineer’s Bill which was UNIMANOUSLY passed by the House of Assembly.
BIPE made many representations to the Government, and I am advised that they also made representation to the Opposition, as well as to the independent members of the House of Assembly, yet BIPE complains of the need to “openly debate and resolve” their objections.
One therefore gets the clear and distinct impression that there are certain members of BIPE who would wish for further debate to continue until; their minority views are accepted by the overwhelming majority. For thirty years there have been unsuccessful attempts to enact legislation for the regulation of the engineering profession. The record shows that in May of 2001 during the FNM’s tenure, that an Engineer’s Forum, sponsored by the Ministry of Works, arrived at a consensus (This culminated into a Bill that was passed in Parliament last week). Not withstanding this, Members of BIPE withdrew their support and reverted to support of the 1992 Bill, and petitioned the new PLP Government to support the same. As Minister, I decided that the issue would be best decided by a poll of the Engineers, and this was initially agreed to by both BIPE and The Bahamas Society of Engineers (BSE).
I wish to again remind the public that members of the engineering community had a choice between the two (2) Bills. One was supported by BIPE, and the other supported by BSE. By a clear majority vote of 132 to 10, with certain executive members of BIPE exercising their democratic right to vote participated in both the Nassau and Freeport, Grand Bahama Poll despite BIPE’s subsequent public call for a boycott by its members.
Further, the Ministry of Works requested of BIPE, on two (2) occasions to provide a listing of its members, and BIPE has ignored the request.
All of the issues raised by BIPE have been carefully considered, and they were so informed. We must be reminded that we live in a democracy, where the principle of the minority having their say, and the majority their way. These are the norms under which we live.
Finally, I wish to point out that the Professional Engineer’s Bill was unanimously passed in the house of Assembly, because the former Administration had agreed to the Bill which was reconfirmed by the overwhelming majority of members of the engineering community in the poll mentioned above.
Minister of Works and Utilities, Bradley Roberts
