Question:
My company is designing equipment to be used in a plant in Trinidad and we want to confirm if the current CUBiC code seismic requirements are still based on UBC 97.
Answer:
The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) was established by the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago by the Engineering Profession Act, No. 34 of 1985 for the registration of engineers and otherwise regulating the practice of engineering. It is effectively a licensing authority for Professional Engineers. The Board therefore is not in a position to confirm or otherwise the requirements for code requirements for design or construction in the construction industry.
Such information may be obtained from the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (email apett@mail.tt), the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (email ttbs@ttbs.org.tt), the Ministry of Works and Transport (website: http://www.mowt.gov.tt) who have been informed of your enquiry by copy of this correspondence. You may wish to address them directly on the matter.
Question:
I am a Guyanese Professional Project Manager/Engineer living in Brazil who recently worked in Trinidad and is desirous of returning.
I would like to know if like some Countries that it is mandatory for Construction and Engineering Companies to be registered with the Engineering Board in order to execute any type of engineering service and that each Company must have a Registered Engineer with the relevant proven experience as their Technical Head.
Answer:
The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) which was established by enactment by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, is the relevant authority for “the registration of engineers and otherwise regulating the practice of engineering”. A relevant section of the Act requires, inter alia, that no person, not being registered as a registered engineer by the BOETT shall –
(a) use any title or description that leads to the belief that he is registered as a registered engineer;
(b) advertise himself as a registered engineer;
(c) act in a manner so as to create or induce the belief that he is a registered engineer; or
(d) sign or stamp any plans, drawings, designs or specifications purporting to be acting in the capacity of such registered engineer.
There is no reference to whether you have to be a registered engineer with the BOETT to provide engineering services for Trinidad and Tobago.
Registration of individual engineers with the BOETT requires the completion of an application form that can be downloaded from the Board’s website at www.boett.org which also includes details of the requirements for registration.
The BOETT has no reciprocity agreement with any foreign country so a full application needs to be completed for registration by the Board.
There is no mandatory requirement for US based consulting firms to be registered with the Engineering Board in order to execute any type of engineering service or that each Company must have a Registered Engineer as their Technical Head in Trinidad and Tobago.
For further information in respect of any requirement for consulting firms to practice in Trinidad and Tobago, you may wish to contact the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (apett@mail.tt), the Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry (jcctt1@gmail.com) and/or the T&T Ministry of Foreign Affairs (website http://www.foreign.gov.tt).
Question:
I am a licensed wireman and recent electrical engineering technology diploma graduate from the University of Trinidad and Tobago seeking guidance on whether I can obtain membership or affiliation to the Board of Engineering.
Answer:
The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) is not an Association, Guild, Union, etc. Its only members are the seven (7) individuals appointed by the Honourable Minister responsible for public works from time to time to serve a three (3) year period in office. The Board is effectively a Licensing Authority and registers professional engineers. It does not provide for affiliation.
According to the Engineering Profession Act, No. 34 of 1985, relevant considerations for registration with the BOETT are:-
1. a person is qualified to be registered as a registered engineer if –
“(a) he has been awarded a degree, diploma or other qualification in engineering granted by a University or School of Engineering that, in the opinion of the Board, is evidence of satisfactory training in engineering, and
(b) he has had not less than four years experience in the practice of engineering and has acquired such standard of proficiency as may be approved by the Board.”
In assessing the accreditability of an academic qualification, the Board is guided by the assessment of the Engineering Council in the UK or their equivalent, as satisfying the academic requirements for professional engineers. Neither the licensed wireman nor the engineering technology diploma from the UTT is considered to meet these requirements.
The BOETT does not provide membership or affiliation but rather registration as attestation to being of professional engineer standard. It does not at this time treat with registration of technicians, technologists, etc.
As soon as a UTT qualification is accredited as being acceptable as a professional engineering qualification by the Engineering Council, or an equivalent authority of internationally accepted repute as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) of the USA etc., no doubt it would be accepted by the BOETT.
The required, not less than four years experience in the practice of engineering, is to be gained after acceptable academic qualification is received. The experience must be on appropriately monitored, supervised and tested projects of a professional engineering nature so as to equip the engineer to undertake such works on his/her own subsequently.
Question:
I have been employed in public utilities for the past 25+ years having worked in various departments within the organization. I am currently enrolled at UTT pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering (2nd yr.), I also possess the HNC in the above mentioned engineering discipline, would the above qualify me to meet the registration requirement?
Answer:
According to the Engineering Profession Act, No. 34 of 1985, relevant consideration for registration with the BOETT are:-
1. a person is qualified to be registered as a registered engineer if –
(a) he has been awarded a degree, diploma or other qualification in engineering granted by a University or School of Engineering that, in the opinion of the Board, is evidence of satisfactory training in engineering, and
(b) he has had not less than four years experience in the practice of engineering and has acquired such standard of proficiency as may be approved by the Board.
In assessing accreditability of an academic qualification, the Board is guided by the accreditation of the Engineering Council in the UK or their equivalent, as satisfying the academic requirements for professional engineers.
The HNC and HND were, at one time, accepted by British institutions of engineers as fulfilling the academic requirements for professional engineers. However, these qualifications ceased to satisfy the requirements of the individual institutions and of the Council of Engineering Institutions (the forerunner of the Engineering Council) after December 1973. These qualifications are now accredited as technical, not professional engineering qualifications. The BOETT only concerns professional engineers.
The Board accordingly only accepts for registration purposes HNC and HND qualifications of applicants who have gained these qualifications prior to December 1973.
As soon as a UTT qualification is accredited as being acceptable as a professional engineering qualification by the Engineering Council, or an equivalent authority of internationally accepted repute as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) of the USA etc., no doubt it would be accepted by the BOETT. To the best of our information, no such accreditation has been given to the UTT’s engineering qualifications at this time.
The required, not less than four years experience in the practice of engineering, is to be gained after acceptable academic qualification is received. The experience must be on appropriately monitored, supervised and tested projects of a professional engineering nature so as to equip the engineer to undertake such works on his/her own subsequently.
Question:
We are seeking a suitable candidate to serve as an Arbitrator on disputes arising out of a FIDIC (red book) contract. We would want to give persons acquainted with English Law some preference. Please provide a list of potential candidates including Resumes or Curriculum Vitae along with their availability and hourly rates.
Answer:
The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) was established by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago by the Engineering Profession Act, No. 34 of 1985 for the registration of engineers and otherwise regulating the practice of engineering. As such, it is in effect ‘a licensing authority’ for professional engineers. The Board publishes a list of registered engineers annually in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette and this listing is also available on the Board’s website at www.boett.org. The Board also maintains the official Register of Registered Engineers which may be viewed at the Board’s office at the above address during ‘normal working hours’ for a TT $5.00 fee.
The Board has no authority to list potential candidates including Resumes or Curriculum Vitae, relevant to arbitrations. Indeed it does not identify specific jobs or tasks for individual engineers or name engineers for jobs.
The Board regrets that it is unable to be of more assistance in this matter but the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, email apett@mail.tt may be in a position to do so and you may wish to redirect your request accordingly.