WITH THE BUILDING BOOM in Barbados still strong, Government is advising potential contractors to come equipped with the necessary skills.

Saying they were not "immune" from shoddy work done by contractors, among other grievances, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Lands, Carson Browne, said on Wednesday that having the requisite skills was critical.

"Persons entering this field must not believe that there is only money to be made but must have the adequate skills, knowledge, experience and track record in the building industry," he said.

Delivering the feature address at the Small Business Association's (SBA) inaugural construction fair at Sherbourne Conference Centre, Two-Mile Hill, St Michael, he said the ministry was often faced with "difficulties arising from contractors and firms related to the quality of houses constructed".

"Cracks appearing in walls too early. I heard of a case that was drawn to my attention where the back step of a building just separated from the main house. There are cases where the house was placed on columns and beams – there are cracks in those in some areas.

"We've had one person who complained that his house started at a very flat level and eventually ended up sloping – those kinds of complaints, not that it was a general thing," Browne disclosed.

He added that "too often" there were complaints about the quality of houses given to purchasers.

"These relate to the type of material used, poor quality of work, overpricing, breaches in contracts by the builder, delivery of homes beyond the promised dates, to name a few.

"The Government is not immune to these types of complaints and we ourselves have to deal with poor workmanship from some contractors, cost over-runs and problems with completing housing on time." (DS)

n Please see also Page 18.