UDP Challenges Changes to Building Act

The United Democratic Party is questioning Cabinet’s approval of amendments to the Belize Building Act. The opposition party says any changes to the act by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing and the Attorney General’s Ministry raise two concerns. One: there appears to be no provision for consultation with all stakeholders in the construction sector, the municipal authorities or the public. They say the consultations under the previous administration led to an improved set of regulations that promoted steady growth in the construction industry. Two: the party is concerned about possible changes to the schedule of fees, including how those are to be shared between the municipal Building Units and the CBA. Again, they say prior consultations resulted in what they term “fair and equitable rates for all types and sizes of construction.” The party says creating yet another scheme would “squeeze” revenue out of an industry just recovering from the negative impacts of the COVID pandemic and hinder the growth of an industry already stressed by the high cost of fuel and materials. The UDP is calling on all construction industry stakeholders to demand open and transparent public consultations as part of any attempt to alter the current Building Act.