The Editor, Sir:

A Sunday Gleaner report of September 20 under the heading 'Unregistered draughtsmen bad for business' left me wondering if we really will ever get out of the squalor that pervades this country through the built environment.

The report indicated that Robert Montague, a minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for local government (under whose leadership parish councils fall), is "adamant that the current approval process carried out by the parish councils is within the ambit of the law, as there is nowhere it says parish councils are only allowed to take drawings from registered architects". He went on to embrace persons violating the Architects Registration Act by labelling them as "small man" who would have their earnings reduced.

Why should there be any contention if laws are made to sustain order and for protection and guidance? Instead of opposing laws that govern us, those in authority should adhere to the rule of law and seek to harmonise relationships for the good of the country. Policies should be formulated to protect the built environment by trained persons who are licensed to maintain a given standard and ensuring safety at all levels.

I believe Montague is sending a wrong signal. The built environment is a sensitive and serious area of our development that needs a responsible approach and by allowing everyone to just draw or "gimme a sketch" and label this as architecture seeks to undermine the profession while wreaking havoc around us. The minister needs to concede that laws are designed for the benefit of an orderly society and he should encourage the "small man" he vehemently spoke of to rise up from the level they remain and strive to expand in knowledge and capacity, so they too can contribute significantly to the built environment.

Contention

Let us now look pragmatically at what seems to be causing quite a contention and see if we can come to an understanding as to the direction we should attempt as a people guided by the rule of law. In the Town and Country Planning Act and also the Parish Council Building Act, there is indeed no order given as to who should prepare plans. In fact, these laws speak to "anyone" or "every one" making application for permission to develop. However, the application should be accompanied by a full set of plans and this is the issue that Jamaican Institute of Architects President Christopher Whyms-Stone is taking up with the minister.

What I believe Whyms-Stone is indicating to Montague is the blatant breaches that exist in accepting drawings not prepared by architects. I believe the parish councils are subscribing to illegality by approving plans found to be in breach of the Architects Registration Act. The unsuspecting public needs to be guided and this should be done without any contention.

Should the parish councils be seen as formidable and above the very laws that govern us? I believe it's time we take a stance and have public officials respect the rule of law and be governed by these laws.

E. C. WILLIAMS

ecwill@anngel.com

Registered Architect

Montego Bay