The Architects Registration Board is mandated to register architects, regulate the practice of architecture in Jamaica, and to
ensure the maintenance of acceptable standards of professional conduct of persons registered under the Architects Registration Act. The Act was mainly regulatory in nature and aimed to monitor the operation of the
Architectural profession in Jamaica.
The Board in exercising its mandate has:
- Recognised the important work of the University of Technology in preparing students for qualification as Registered Architects, and the consequent growth in the body of registered
architects notwithstanding the loss through attrition of several members of the profession. In recognition of this phenomenon the Board has recommended that the grandfather provisions relating
to the entry level into the profession be deleted from the Act.
- Identified inherent conflicts between the provisions of the Architects Registration Act on the one hand and the Local Improvement Act, and Town and Country Planning Act on the other hand.
The Board has sought to have this anomaly addresses in the latter two Acts.
- Opened Discussion on the existing practice where foreign Architects are allowed to submit plans, for development works in Jamaica, to the relevant Local Authority without being temporarily
registered in accordance with the Act. Additionally, these plans are submitted without the signature or involvement of a local registered Architect, whose knowledge of and familiarity with local
conditions the board regards as indispensable, if we are to guarantee the protection of the public interest, and the preservation of the ‘national flavour’ of our developmental process.
- Reviewed the proposal for free movement of professionals within the Caribbean, and ways and means to absorb the impact of the disparity between entry level qualifications for Architects within the territories.
- Acknowledge the significant changes in the national economy since the date of the last revision of Registration and other fees, and made recommendations for revised rates.
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