Cayman Surveyor’s chapter is prominent in end of year update
An end-of-year update from Sanjay Amin FRICS, Caribbean Board Chair
20 Nov 2014
With the end of the year on the horizon, Sanjay Amin gives a special update to fellow Caribbean members on all that we’ve accomplished in 2014 and what’s in store for 2015
As the end of the year approaches, I am pleased to be able to report on the successes of our region since the start of this administrative year and share with you some of our future plans.
However, before I go into the details of RICS events and activities, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Caribbean Board to congratulate Elizabeth Stair, FRICS, on her appointment as a Member of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer during that island’s National Honors and Awards in August for her outstanding contribution to the improvement of land administration in Jamaica and the integration of a comprehensive Land Information System; and also her subsequent receipt of a Public Sector Champion Award in September from Thomson Reuters for “Excellence in Business Process Transformation.” Elizabeth is the CEO of the Jamaica National Land Agency.
In September, the Cayman Chapter hosted Michael Barnes, QC, of Wilberforce Chambers in London to address a well-attended luncheon seminar on “Compensation for Compulsory Purchase.”
In October, Barbados hosted our flagship event for this year, the RICS-IPTI 3rd Annual Caribbean Valuation & Construction Conference, which was held under the theme: “Managing Risks in Real Estate and Construction” between October 21 and 22. The Board would like to thank new Barbados Chapter Chair Milton Inniss and committee members Christopher Docherty, Symon Clarke, and Wayne Forde for their invaluable contributions to the conference programme. Attendees to this conference benefited from a lively, robust and informative exchange of views on how we can advance the property profession in the region. Plans are already underway for the fourth conference next November and we will continue to keep you informed as we progress.
In November, the Bermuda RICS members staged a well-received panel presentation on “Hurricane Simulation Models, Wind Tunnels & Wind Climate Analysis in the Design for Storm Loading on Structures & Buildings – Implications for Bermuda”. This was a very timely event and we are thankful that our Bermudan members and colleagues made it through the passage of Hurricane Gonzalo without serious injury or loss of life.
Other milestones so far this year include: valuation registration becoming mandatory in the Cayman Islands; Government offices in Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica and Cayman Islands requesting training and membership support from RICS; the Bahamas Real Estate Association requesting a tailored RICS training program for their licensing requirements; and the appointment of Carmel Haynes as a full-time RICS Mmanager for the Caribbean and Miami.
In December, RICS Americas Managing Director Neil Shah and Regulations Manager Michael Zuriff will be making a special visit to Jamaica where they will meet with members to discuss with them the commitment of RICS to the region. I would encourage all RICS members in Jamaica to attend the meeting on December 17 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. Further details will follow in subsequent correspondence. The Cayman Islands Chapter will also be hosting its annual holiday social on December 11 at the Craft Food & Beverage Company. More details to follow.
We are also looking forward in 2015 to the second RICS Cayman Islands Property & Construction Conference, which is taking place under theme: “Building Sustainable Communities”. The one-day conference will be held on March 15, 2015 and the keynote address will be delivered by RICS Global President, Louise Brooke-Smith. You can register now via this link.
Other priority activities for 2015 include improved communication with members; more chapter events, especially for CPD credit; the development of a members’ directory; increased on-line and in-person training relevant to the Caribbean; greater educational institution outreach; increased governmental outreach; better guidance on standards for existing members; promotion of the valuer registration programme; improved APC pass rates through more mentorship and training; greater awareness of the AssocRICS; and the launch of Matrics, the RICS mentorship program, If you are interested in learning more about Matrics and becoming a member, please register here.
As I close, I would remind you that RICS members are required to record 20 hours of CPD annually. Chapter meetings and events qualify for CPD, as do other professional seminars and workshops. Last year, the Caribbean members did a great job in meeting the new requirement of logging their hours online, with a compliance rate of 90 per cent. Let’s keep up the good work this year and even try to surpass other chapters!
