By Eng. Vaughn I. Lezama, B.Sc., FAPETT, M.ASCE, R.Eng.
Registrar, Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT)
CEO and Principal Engineer, Consulting Engineers Associates 2005 Ltd (CEAL)
“Earthquake resilience is not achieved after disasters occur—it is created through competent engineering, effective regulation and sustained national commitment.”
The Venezuela earthquake of June 24th 2026 should not be viewed simply as another regional natural disaster. It should serve as a catalyst for renewed national commitment to strengthening the resilience of Trinidad and Tobago’s built environment. While earthquakes cannot be prevented, their consequences can be significantly reduced through informed public policy, effective regulation, competent engineering, quality construction, and sustained investment in resilient infrastructure.
Developing a truly earthquake-resilient nation requires a coordinated effort involving Government, regulatory authorities, local government bodies, professional institutions, developers, contractors, educational institutions and the wider public. Disaster resilience is not the responsibility of any single organisation; it is the collective outcome of sound governance, technical competence and responsible decision-making at every stage of the infrastructure development process.
Strengthening the National Regulatory Framework
An effective regulatory system forms the foundation of public safety. Engineering legislation, building regulations, planning approvals and construction inspection processes must operate as complementary components of an integrated framework that safeguards the public interest.
The Government should continue strengthening the legal and institutional framework governing the design, approval and construction of buildings and infrastructure to ensure that modern engineering standards are consistently applied throughout the country. This includes adopting up-to-date building regulations that reflect internationally recognised seismic design provisions and ensuring that appropriate mechanisms exist for their effective implementation and enforcement.
Equally important is the integration of engineering expertise, via a system of peer review, into the development approval process. Engineering reviews should be proportionate to the complexity and risk associated with each project, with particular attention given to structures whose failure could have significant consequences for public safety.
Ensuring Competent Engineering Practice
Competence remains the single most effective safeguard against engineering failure.
Engineering work that affects public safety should be undertaken only by appropriately qualified and registered professional engineers practicing within their recognised areas of competence. Registration is not merely evidence of academic qualification; it reflects professional experience, demonstrated competence, ethical responsibility and accountability to the public.
As engineering knowledge continues to evolve, maintaining professional competence requires an ongoing commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Advances in seismic engineering, structural analysis, geotechnical investigation, construction materials, digital modelling and performance-based design continually reshape engineering practice. Professional engineers must therefore remain current with emerging technologies, revised standards and international best practices throughout their careers.
Professional institutions, universities and regulatory bodies all have an important role in fostering lifelong learning and supporting the continuous development of engineering competence.
Improving the Quality of Construction
A well-designed building can only perform as intended if it is constructed in accordance with the approved engineering design.
Quality assurance during construction is therefore just as important as the quality of the design itself. Effective site supervision, rigorous inspection procedures, material testing, compliance with approved specifications and proper documentation are essential components of achieving structural integrity.
Developers and contractors should recognise that investment in construction quality is not an avoidable cost but an investment in public safety, asset protection and long-term sustainability. Short-term savings achieved by compromising engineering specifications or construction quality frequently result in substantially greater economic losses following natural disasters.
The construction industry should continually promote a culture of quality management, technical competence and professional collaboration, recognising that resilient infrastructure is the product of the combined efforts of owners, designers, contractors, suppliers and inspectors.
Assessing and Strengthening Existing Infrastructure
Much of Trinidad and Tobago’s existing building stock was constructed over many decades under varying design standards and construction practices. Consequently, not all buildings possess the same level of seismic resilience.
A national programme for the systematic assessment of critical public infrastructure should therefore be considered. Priority should be given to hospitals, schools, emergency operations centres, fire stations, police stations, bridges, ports, utilities and other infrastructure essential to national response and recovery following a major earthquake.
Where assessments identify unacceptable levels of vulnerability, appropriate strengthening or rehabilitation programmes should be implemented based on sound engineering evaluation and risk prioritisation. Such investments should be viewed not as discretionary expenditure but as prudent risk management capable of reducing future economic losses while protecting lives.
Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into National Development
Disaster resilience should not be treated as a separate sectoral activity. It should become an integral component of national development planning.
Every major infrastructure investment should consider the full range of natural hazards likely to affect its performance throughout its design life. Earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, landslides, coastal erosion, sea level rise and climate-related hazards should all be addressed within an integrated multi-hazard engineering framework.
Risk-informed planning enables infrastructure to be designed not only for present conditions but also for the uncertainties associated with future environmental change. Such an approach improves resilience, extends service life and enhances the long-term value of public and private investment.
Building Public Awareness and Preparedness
Engineering alone cannot create resilient communities without informed public support.
Property owners, developers and members of the public should understand the importance of engaging competent registered engineers for engineering work affecting structural safety. Public awareness campaigns should also encourage regular maintenance of buildings, recognition of structural warning signs and appreciation of the role that engineering standards play in protecting lives.
Similarly, emergency preparedness education should complement improvements in the built environment. Communities that understand earthquake hazards and appropriate response measures are better positioned to protect themselves during emergencies while supporting more effective disaster recovery.
The Leadership Role of the Board of Engineering
The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago has a unique responsibility within this national agenda. Through the registration of engineers, the promotion of professional competence, the enforcement of ethical standards and the regulation of engineering practice, the Board contributes directly to the safety, resilience and sustainability of the nation’s built environment.
The Board also has an important educational role. By promoting public awareness of the value of competent engineering, encouraging adherence to recognised professional standards and supporting collaboration with Government, academia and professional institutions, the Board helps foster a culture in which engineering excellence becomes a national expectation rather than an exception.
The Engineering Profession Act provides the legislative framework for protecting the public through competent engineering practice. Its continued effective implementation will remain essential as Trinidad and Tobago responds to increasing infrastructure demands, technological change, urban expansion and evolving natural hazards.
A Call to National Action
The lessons from Venezuela are clear. Earthquake resilience cannot be achieved after an earthquake has occurred. It must be built progressively through every engineering decision, every construction project, every regulatory approval and every professional judgement made today.
The choices made now will determine whether future earthquakes become national catastrophes or manageable natural events.
Trinidad and Tobago possesses the engineering expertise, professional institutions, regulatory framework and technical capacity necessary to achieve a highly resilient built environment. The challenge before us is to apply these resources consistently, collaboratively and with an unwavering commitment to protecting the public interest.
In the final analysis, resilient nations are not created by chance. They are created by deliberate policies, competent professionals, effective regulation and a collective determination to ensure that every generation inherits infrastructure that is safer, stronger and more resilient than the one before.