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Press Release From Independent Source

Stop Notice issued on final works for all buildings in VI

Chairman of the Building Committee Board, Mr Tony Scatliffe said the Stop Notice excludes temporary remedial measures for security and protection on buildings that sustained damage due to the passage of Hurricanes Irma or Maria. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- An across-the-board Stop Notice on all final works on buildings across the Territory is being enforced by the Building Authority.

Chairman of the Building Committee Board, Mr Tony Scatliffe said the Stop Notice excludes temporary remedial measures for security and protection on buildings that sustained damage due to the passage of Hurricanes Irma or Maria.

He added that it is essential for the safety of the public and to ensure that the rebuilding of the Territory is undertaken in a sustainable and proper manner.

Persons looking to rebuild sections or elements of building structures must first obtain the Building Authority’s permission for all remedial works to be undertaken. The Building Authority has been relocated at the Public Works Department, Baugher’s Bay, and applications shall be reviewed in as timely a manner as possible.

Mr Scatliffe said, “There have been many instances where persons are looking to replace timber roofs with concrete roofs. This in particular must not be undertaken without the guidance of a qualified structural engineer to ensure the existing walls / columns are able to withstand the forces of earthquakes. Simply placing concrete on a structure could pose a serious risk to occupants.”

Residents are asked to continue to follow all existing processes and to be guided by the laws that are instated for the safety of all through the period of rebuilding.

13 Responses to “Stop Notice issued on final works for all buildings in VI”

  • just asking... (03/11/2017, 14:28) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    so what must people do?
    • Government Continues to Fail (04/11/2017, 08:21) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Stop people from rebuilding. Keep the place looking ghetto indefinitely with temporary structures while government tries to get its act together. Another Big Fail.
  • Binocs (03/11/2017, 16:08) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    When there is no vision the people perish. If a nationwide stop notice is in place where 80 to 90 % of homes are damaged the Government needs to ensure that it adequately staffs the Town & Country Planning Department to ensure that this Stop Notice does not effectively cripple the nation's rebuilding efforts and economy. First, all we have a situation where many persons are still awaiting insurance payments to cover their rebuilding costs and secondly where a large percentage of the population is uninsured, so the question is where will many persons find the funds to also fund the costs of new architectural/engineering drawings if that is the Government's requirement? Secondly, even if persons are able to satisfy the requirements for approval, is there any guarantee that the application and approval process will be handled expeditiously rather than the months or even years that the process has taken in the past. How is the country to rebuild and rehouse its people in those circumstances. It appears that we are effectively destroying our own rebuilding process, unless clear measures are put in place to protect our nationals in the process rather than to further victimise citizens.
  • Marie (03/11/2017, 16:53) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who has time and money to waste when constant rain and mold is everywhere? No one has money to build temporary then knock it down to build according to standards again. If people are not allowed to fix their house fast now by any means necessary, it will halt the rebuilding of our country. People having this new pressure put on them might make them go over the edge.
  • Come On! (03/11/2017, 21:16) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    So if you are putting back what was there before I guess it is ok. Come on Govt you have to do better than this man. Stop stressing the peoole. Where are the representatives? All of a sudden people are trying to protect their jobs by showing that they are relevant. Where was all of this scrutiny before the storms? Give me a break. Focus on Govt buildings if you really need something to do and stop stressing people. SMFH!!!
  • .... (04/11/2017, 11:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok build it back just because you need shelter but sign waiver that whatever happens to your building after this government is not responsible for your safety
  • wize up (04/11/2017, 13:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That is just for the small and locals !!!!
  • Wck (04/11/2017, 18:06) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    I really wonder if some of you all that made comments above could really read. The very first question was " so what the people must do?" The answer was clearly given in the article..... which was......... contact the building authority, public works or who ever they listed ...and apply for rebuilding permission. That's the answer. I'm not going to lie...... I have to fix my house too and it's gonna be a set back for anyone rebuilding. I'm not looking forward to the delay but it's really a safety issue. If you've engineered a building to support a wooden roof and the roof is being replaced, you can't necessarily just replace it with a concrete roof because the columns and beams may have only been engineered to support that wood roof. So really if you actually manage to get away with just slamming a concrete roof on a house meant for a wood roof you're actually putting your family and yourself at risk for having a concrete slab drop on you all..... and it may not even need an earthquake to do that. So those that want to take that risk ...go ahead and don't invite anyone to yuh house.
    Infact I am one of those people that agree that government sometimes don't get all their stuff together. No ones perfect;however, they are right on the ball with this one. They are actually making sure that when and if we rebuild that we do so in a safe way. They are actually offering a service where you get professionals in the field of engineering to look over your rebuilding endeavors and give you the ok if it's safe. I commend this. It's simple......if you want to move from a wood roof to a concrete one........you summit your plans to them, if your columns and beams can take a concrete roof they allow you to build it. If it's not structurally sound for a concrete roof, they'll say .....no...put back on the wood and strenghten it if possible. I'm saying this because I'm tired of hearing people say that it's only stupid people putting back on wood. So.....just know that if you intend to put a concrete roof on a structure .......legally.....if that structure is deemed not fit for a concrete roof ...........You'll have to literally demolish most of, if not all of the building, re build the necessary beams and columns and you know the rest.
    • wize up (04/11/2017, 20:40) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ WCK: you need to be sent an invoice for taking up so much space with your bull!!!! But you just might be a VIP sidekick
      • Wck (06/11/2017, 05:39) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
        I think the real bull is if you really condone building back a country in an unsafe way.......just because. You could send me a bill if you run this site......wise up
  • Wck (06/11/2017, 05:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'll add this. I stated before that the process of going through Public works etc is good for safety reasons; however, I do believe that because of the situation we are in because of those 2 hurricanes that these government agencies should make sure that the process moves expeditiously.
  • craziness (06/11/2017, 17:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tell them stop me when my windows and doors reach on island. Who in the kitchen feels the heat. The government got their bread buttered on both sides. They going help me when mold takes over my place and it's not fit to live in? How I going get my mortgage pay? Pana you all try go sit down you hear wa I tell a ya.
  • too late (08/11/2017, 08:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where dry been sleeping for the last 2 months? (Or two decades). Here’s what the building authority needs to do. Stop rampant use of public spaces for trailers and vans and other vehicles that will get blown around in a Cat 1. Start enforcing planning permission in Road Town, stop kitchens and toilets that feed into drains not sewers. Sort out drainage, the gut by Delta is still overgrown with trees after all these floods. Private citizens have no desire to live in death traps. Enforce permission for commercial rental space/slum landlords and if you really want to oversee get out there and HELP residents. The gov themselves say 4500 roof damaged, the BA going to see them all?


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