33 persons successfully complete building maintenance workshop

Thirty-three members of various institutions here have successful completed a building maintenance workshop.{{more}}

The workshop, from September 10 to 13, ended with a closing ceremony at Sunset Shores Hotel.

It was a joint effort between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Government and was facilitated by Deen and Partners Architects and monitored by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF).

Project Manager of the BNTF Kenneth Douglas said the workshop resulted from several requests through the Caribbean Development Bank, as persons in the communities were always concerned about the maintenance of buildings and roads.

A release quoted Douglas as saying that when BNTF personnel visit schools, there are always complaints about toilets and pipes not functioning properly and it is important to ensure that staff members can carry out these maintenance tasks.

Douglas said when these are left unrepaired, they are more costly to maintain and he hopes the participants will impart their knowledge in this area to members of their communities, the release further said.

Deen Kamaludeen of Dean and Partners Architects said there is a similar trend and line of culture in St Vincent and the Grenadines and other Caribbean countries as it relates to the approach of individuals and their understanding of the maintenance of buildings.

“The general feeling is who is responsible and who is not for the maintenance of buildings,” Kamaludeen said.

Kamaludeen noted that there is a general interest in the revival of building maintenance and the CDB and its partners are trying to sell the idea that community buildings are the responsibility of communities.

This sort of approach, he said, will help to foster community spirit, build cohesion and strength.

Kamaludeen said building maintenance is actually a medium to bring communities together.

The participants were provided with the tools and knowledge on how to promote, organize and execute maintenance works, which included maintenance of building services systems – electrical, plumbing, rainwater catchments, drainage and sanitation components and how to manage this process, the release said.

The participants each received a certificate of participation and a tool kit to assist in carrying out maintenance work at their various institutions.