Dominica joining the rest of the OECS, in efforts to implement Revised OECS Building Code 2015

​Dominica is joining the rest of the OECS, in efforts to implement the Revised OECS Building Code 2015. Under the GCCA Project, the OECS Commission has embraced the task of assisting the islands on the best practices for implementation. Many consultations have therefore been held in that regard.
 
The consultation on development of best practice recommendations for the implementation of the Revised OECS Building Code 2015, began at the Garraway Hotel in Dominica on Monday, with consultant Alison King.
 
During her welcome address, Physical Planner Annie Edwards said, “while building codes are not new to the island, enforcement of the codes has been a problem faced by the Physical Planning Division; the reason being that it was not legally integrated or adopted into our system. Hence, these new codes under the OECS, and subsequent implementation consultations are timely”.
 
She noted that, “The recommendations being circulated really seek to guide us on how it can be integrated, and with the passage of Hurricane Maria we realize in Dominica, that we need to have stronger enforcement, and stronger practices in the construction sector”.
 
She added, “Hurricane Maria really exposed a lot of weaknesses in our construction sector, weaknesses related to the design of our roofs, the type of building materials we use, and the type of construction practices we have, so this is a very timely endeavor”.
 
She thanked the OECS Commission for the project, which is intended to strengthen resilience in the OECS member states.