Black Immigrant Daily News

The National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) is making a special appeal to block makers to ensure that standards are maintained in their production processes.

Inspector-in-Charge, Import and Domestic Commodities Inspectorate, NCRA, Dr Wendell Richards, said checks carried out by inspectors have revealed substandard blocks from some block makers.

Speaking at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, Richards reminded block makers that there is a compulsory standard.

“Note, as well, that Jamaica sits on a fault line (and) we spend more time in a building than outside; therefore, the blocks have to be compliant,” he emphasised.

Richards explained that substandard hollow blocks can be the result of not using the correct material, not using material in the right quantities, among other factors.

These deviate from the existing compulsory standard JS 35:2011 for standard hollow concrete blocks, which Richards said puts “fellow citizens, your own family, friends and loved ones at risk”.

Though the authority does not offer consultancy services, it is open to pointing interested block makers in the right direction to ensure guidance from the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) and adherence to regulations.

“If you don’t know what to do, come to us. We will put you in conversation with the right experts, and they are going to guide you through. When you speak to us, as well, we will guide you through the regulatory process, so that you become compliant,” said Richards.

He advised that persons who are interested in the block-making business should make three blocks and present them to the BSJ for testing. The results should be taken to the NCRA and after registration, an inspector will be assigned to conduct a site visit.

There are three main block sizes – 100 mm or four inches; 150 mm or six inches; and 200 mm or eight inches. The NCRA will inspect a sample of 10 blocks; therefore, if a block maker applies to make all three sizes, a sample of 30 blocks must be prepared for testing.

Richards stressed that the samples must meet the minimum specifications to be passed, but block makers should aim to exceed the minimum specifications.

“The most important specification is the compressive strength of seven megapascals. That is the minimum you should meet. (Do not simply) try to meet seven megapascals, because if anything goes wrong you will fall below that,” he said.

The Import and Domestic Commodities Inspectorate of the NCRA works at all major ports of entry and throughout retail outlets within the domestic space. In the domestic market, they conduct targeted inspection and monitoring work in five product categories, one of which is construction and material units.

To access the list of standards for building and associated materials, persons can visit the NCRA’s website at ww.ncra.org.jm.

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Parliament’s procedural clerk Keiba Jacob Mottley, from left, Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland and Finance Minister Colm Imbert at the reception of the ceremonial Opening of the 3rd Session of the 12th Republican Parliament on September 12. Scotland quoted Psalm 1 in the budget debate on Saturday. – File photo/Sureash Cholai

Church came a day early for some parliamentarians as PNM and UNC MPs in their budget presentations took from the word of the Lord to preach to the other side.

MPs Dr Rai Ragbir and Keith Scotland both quoted scripture on the second day of debate on the 2022-2023 budget which was read on Monday last.

Ragbir, the Cumuto Manzanilla MP, opened his parliamentary sermon with Acts, Chapter 2, verse 14.

“Peter was a unreliable leader,” he said. “His bravado however was his downfall and he even denied Jesus. Jesus forgave him and he filled with the holy spirit. Then he displayed confidence, humility and boldness and he became a powerful dynamic speaker. Deputy Speaker, I am here today filled with the holy spirit.”

“Let my words resonate in the hearts and minds of everyone that is suffering, that you would pray it will be a better day tomorrow.”

Not to be outdone, Scotland, the MP for Port of Spain South, had scripture of his own.

“The honourable member of Cumuto/Manzanilla said he’s filled with the holy spirit. And he sits on the other side while quoting scripture. So I’ll quote scripture for you.”

Quoting from Psalm 1, he said: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the council of the ungodly. Nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

Scotland then moved on to knock the Chaguanas East MP, Vandana Mohit ,for unfair remarks about the state of the country.

UNC Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir quoted from Acts, Chapter 2 during the budget debate on Saturday. – File photo/Sureash Cholai

“Madam speaker, the honourable member for Chaguanas East in her presentation spewed a cacophony of words that began with ‘dis’. But what the honourable member forgot to mention in her discourse is that since September 2015, TT is disinterested in the UNC. Therefore, at the polls we treated them with disdain. Under the distinguished leadership of the Prime Minister and the discipline and financial stewardship of the Minister of Finance this country need not despair.”

“Members of the other side stop your persistent peddling of gloom and doom in TT. Stop dissing our country.”

Ragbir spoke on one of the highlights of the budget, in which Finance Minister Colm Imbert said government allotted $200 million for healthcare workers as thanks for their efforts during the pandemic. He said the nurses most of all, needed the money.

“Nurses account for 59 per cent of our healthcare professionals. I hope they get the money soon.”

Also during the debate, Communications Minister Symon De Nobriga knocked what he called “misinformation” by the Opposition, saying that it is a threat to the nation’s democracy.

“Unfortunately, much of the misinformation that emanates from those opposite is spread on social media and in such an environment; it is increasingly difficult for citizens to judge the integrity of information being spewed at them on a daily basis.”

He responded to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s claim on Friday about spoke an alleged strategic plan to axe 2,500 WASA workers. He said that the PNM had no such plan.

“The only strategic plan that I know that has been authorised and approved by this government (is) for Strategic Action Plan, dated January 2022,” he said. “The member for Siparia spoke about what she had seen on page 53. So I turned to that. On page 53 of this report, Mr Deputy Speaker there is no conversation anywhere around retrenching, letting people go or sending people home.”

However, he said he came across a letter from May 2012 during the PP administration where then CEO of WASA, Ganga Singh proposed to reduce staff from 4,736 people to about 2,500 over a period of 48 months.

“They offend this country in general and its supporters in particular, with a consistent diet of misinformation…When we do this, where are we going as a nation? What do we expect to see? We saw what happened in jurisdictions much further north than on January 6 (the storming of Capitol Hill in the US). Is that what we are trying to get this country to? I make a simple claim that in my opinion, this Opposition with the misinformation campaign is a threat to the democracy.”

Ragbir responded saying that government did in fact review a programme for retrenchment. He also referred to the Finance Minister’s “they haven’t rioted yet” comment in 2016.

“You laughed as the fuel price went up five times,” he said.

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