Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago

COMING SOON! - CARICOM Single Registration of Professional Engineers: Be Registered or Be Left Out! 

Passing of Engineer Ahmin Baksh The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) expresses its deepest sadness on the passing of a former Board Member, Eng. Ahmin Z. Baksh. Eng. Baksh served as a Board Member during the Eighth Term of office of the BOETT in which he held the position of Treasurer during his tenure. He was a former President of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (APETT), having the distinction of moving from Student Member to President of that organization and which is only part testimony of his professional commitment and the distinction with which he served the engineering community. He also represented the BOETT on the Council of the Trinidad and Tobago Group of Professional Associations (TTGPA). It was only a week prior to his passing that Engineer Baksh confirmed his commitment to serve on an Interview panel of the Board of Engineering to interview Electrical Registration Candidates whose competencies the Board considers need to be further evaluated. His untimely passing has therefore come as a shock to us at the BOETT and his continued service to the BOETT and the wider engineering community will be greatly missed. We at the BOETT wish to extend our deepest condolences to Eng. Baksh’s family and friends.

Message from the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago to its Registered Engineers on the Occasion of World Standards Day, 14 October 2024 Dear Registered Engineers, On this occasion of World Standards Day, 14 October 2024, the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) extends its warmest greetings to all our registered engineers. As we commemorate this important day, we reflect on the critical role that standards play in shaping our profession, ensuring consistency, quality, and safety in every aspect of our work. Standards are the foundation upon which the engineering profession is built, guiding us to deliver solutions that meet international best practices, protect the public, and foster innovation. In a world that is increasingly interconnected and rapidly advancing, adherence to robust standards is more crucial than ever. They are essential in promoting sustainable development, advancing technology, and maintaining the highest levels of professionalism in our industry. This year’s theme for World Standards Day emphasizes the importance of collaboration and unity in developing and applying these standards. As engineers, your commitment to upholding these benchmarks reflects not only your dedication to excellence but also your responsibility to the communities you serve. Your contributions continue to propel Trinidad and Tobago forward, ensuring that our nation strives to become competitive on the global stage. We encourage all engineers to take a moment today to reflect on the importance of standards in your work, to continue striving for excellence, and to uphold the integrity that our profession demands. Coincidentally, the first Board of the BOETT was inaugurated on 14 October 1986, so that the Board’s inauguration anniversaries fall on the same day and month as that of World Standards Day. The BOETT has since seen the growth of a community of Registered Engineers among us and it continues to serve as an impetus for promoting professional standards in the practice of engineering and thereby foster the development of capability, competency and ethicality in engineering practice in Trinidad and Tobago. The BOETT wishes to thank you, our registered engineers, for your dedication, expertise, and continued service to the field of engineering and to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Let us continue to lead by example, setting the highest standards for future generations of engineers. Best regards, The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago 14 October 2024

The Impact of Imbalance and Onerous Finance and Payment Terms in State Construction Contracts

Wishing our Engineers, a meaningful and reflective Republic Day.

The Misguided use of the Design-Build Form of Contract in the State Housing Development Sector – An Engineer’s view on issues related to the Trestrail Housing Development Project

Happy Independence Day 31st August 2024! To all Board Registered Engineers As we celebrate the 62nd Independence Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago, we reflect on the strength, resilience, and ingenuity that have brought us this far. Engineers have played a vital role in shaping the nation’s infrastructure, economy, and overall progress, contributing to the growth of our society in countless ways. Today, we stand united in our commitment to building a stronger, more innovative Trinidad and Tobago. As professionals entrusted with the development and sustainability of our nation’s critical systems and infrastructure, the contributions of our engineers remain invaluable. Let us continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, fostering a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for all. On this special day, The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago extends deepest gratitude for the hard work, dedication, and pivotal role which our engineers play in the advancement of our beautiful twin-island nation. May we continue to uphold the legacy of excellence as we move forward into the future with pride and hope.

A Question to the Office of the Procurement Regulator – Should an engineer’s professional certification be supplemental to academic qualifications in identifying qualified Suppliers and Contractors?  Vaughn I. Lezama, R. Eng. A concern has been raised in some quarters, that as part of the OPR’s procedures to identify qualified suppliers and contractors, in pursuit of the implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, service providers are required to provide evidence of academic certificates of engineers, but there is no reference to evidence of professional certification by way of Professional Registration with the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT). Registered engineers are bound by a legislated Code of Ethics and can therefore be held to account by the Board of Engineering in the event of any failure in duty of care. However, the same does not apply to an engineer who is not registered, so that there is no avenue for accountability or requirement to conform to legislated ethical practices on the part of such a professional. Given that the Procurement legislation advocates the principles of accountability, transparency and integrity, the omission of any reference to registered professional engineers, in qualifying suppliers and contractors, may be an inadvertency that does not support the letter or intent of the Procurement Legislation. Registered engineers are obliged to protect the public health, safety and welfare and to demonstrate professional competency, objectivity, confidentially and ethicality. Therefore, strictly speaking, engineering registration is intended to protect the public interest rather than that of the engineer. Accordingly, there is a view that as a minimum, engineers’ qualifications should include any current evidence of registration certification with the BOETT. While it is not suggested that the OPR makes this a mandatory requirement of the prequalification process, a request to provide evidence of registration certification will indeed direct due attention to the important role that professional registration certification can and should play in furthering the objectives of the Procurement Legislation and in the development of the country’s engineering proficiency, competency and ethical practices.

Be part of the Future of Engineering in Trinidad and Tobago. Distinguish yourself among your peers as a leader in the profession. BOETT Certification is a critical way for engineers to differentiate themselves among their peers and for employers to recognize and hire the best talent. Board certification is therefore your next career step after earning your professional qualifications and acquiring appropriate experience in the practice of your profession.

PPGPL Engineers Learning About the Licensing Requirements with the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited (PPGPL), is the only Natural Gas processing Facility in Trinidad and Tobago and therefore a major player in the country’s energy sector. It is a facility which requires a high level of technical skills to maintain its operations in a safe and sustainable manner. PPGPL is therefore a major employer of Engineers whose technical training and competency is critical to maintain the company’s award-winning safety culture. Accordingly, PPGPL as a responsible corporation recognizes the importance of having among its employee such personnel with the appropriate level of certified qualification and training. PPGPL recognizes that the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago registers engineers who have satisfied a rigorous assessment of their professional competency and as such Board Certification is a benchmark through which Employers such as PPGPL can have confidence and trust that an Engineer has met recognized professional standards in his/her profession. PPGPL therefore considers that it is in the interest of the company to encourage the engineers in its employ to become Board registered. PPGPL has been in discussion with the Board of Engineering for some time now in pursuit of this objective and this culminated with an invitation to the Board of Engineering to make a presentation to the engineers of PPGPL on the Registration Process with the Board of Engineering. A Power Point Presentation with the tile “Are You a Board Registered Engineer: Your Career Success may depend on it” was made to an audience of Engineers at the PPGPL Plant by the Board Registrar, Engineer, Vaughn Lezama. The photos below capture some of the highlights of the occasion. The BOETT is open to invitations from any agency or utility that employs engineers to provide a similar presentation to its engineers on the process and benefits of registration to both the engineer and the employer.