Media

 29th May 2021 by Solomon Cefai - buisinessnow.mt

Malta Chamber of Construction Management unveils membership statute & invites applications

After “months of hard work”, the recently-launched Malta Chamber of Construction Management (MCCM) has published its membership statute and officially opened up to applications from aspiring members.

Under the statute, aspiring members are able to apply for membership under one of three tiers, depending on their academic qualifications and experience. For Tier One (Construction Project Manager) level, members must be holders of a degree, or other equivalent academic level, and have a minimum of two years’ experience in a Construction Management role.

For Tier Two (Construction Site Manager), members must be holders of a diploma or equivalent level of academic certification in Construction Management and have a minimum of two years’ experience in a Construction Management role.

Tier Three (Associate Member) requires holders to have a minimum of five years’ experience in the Construction Industry or be holders of a Diploma/Certificate MQF/EQF Level 5 in Construction Management. Applications will be reviewed by the Construction Managers’ Membership Board, which was announced in April.

Following the review of each application, the board will prepare a report that will eventually guide “each and every applicant” as to the recommended route to achieve membership to the category of their choosing.

In other recent news, the Construction Managers’ chamber last week announced a partnership with ABLY Resources, “to upscale the local construction-built environment and the professions that operate within it”. At the time, Mr Chetcuti commented: “Forging alliances with other professional bodies is for the common good of our industry”. “Through this agreement with ABLY Resources, one of the benefits the MCCM is targeting is to not only be able to make its mission and vision heard locally but also abroad, especially to those professionals that are looking at Malta as a country where they can aspire to work and settle”, he added.

It is a system that is intended to allow the MCCM to welcome members from across the Construction Management community.

In comments to BusinessNow.mt, President Jesmond Chetcuti explained: “as we always advocated, membership is going to be available not only to the Construction Project Managers but also to other members of the Construction Management community” “We are doing this as we believe that the local construction industry, especially the management sector, requires an institution that not only represents their interests but more importantly assists them in their career progression and development”, he expanded.

If interested to join the 9.2cm width x 5cm height Malta Chamber of Construction Management, kindly send an email on info@mccm.org.mt (15)

 05th August 2021 by Solomon Cefai

buisenessnow.mt

Construction management chamber calls for regularisation of construction project management with warrant

The Malta Chamber of Construction Management (MCCM) has called for the regularisation of the construction management profession through the introduction of a legally recognised warrant. The industry body made this call as it launched its 2021 to 2023 strategy, which aims to drive change within the construction industry. Addressing a press conference unveiling the strategy, the chamber’s president Jesmond Chetcuti explained that traditionally, the local construction sector has been made up of “multiple players with an array of variable interests that were not always driven by quality and standards”. The MCCM’s mission, therefore, is to assist in the transformation process, to help the industry adjust into one that embraces change, it said. The chamber has set out three tiers, with Tier 1 members being eligible to apply for the eventual warrant to operate as construction project managers. In order for the industry to move forward, the chamber acknowledged that education and continuous development are key.

The industry is constantly changing, with buildings becoming intrinsically more demanding and complex, it has found.The continuous development of professionals working in the sector, as well as the need to embrace new technologies and best practices – whilst keeping risk assessment as a core theme – are of utmost importance, according to the MCCM.

“There is no doubt that in Malta there are a good number of construction managers of various levels, with years of experience,” Mr Chetcuti said. “However, not all of them, for some reason or another, have the academic background to complement their experience,” he continued. This shortcoming was being addressed through collaborations with local and foreign educational institutions, so that specialised courses of various levels and durations are made available, the MCCM said.

Introducing the strategy, Keith Demicoli, formerly of TVM, but now working at The Malta Chamber, said that the MCCM was launched to promote practices and standards and upscale and modernise the practices in the construction industry.

Also present at the press launch was Caroline Gumble, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in the UK, which is the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. Mr Chetcuti said that the MCCM’s collaboration with the CIOB seeks to send a strong message that the Chamber is looking at quality and not quantity.

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 06th August 2021 by globalconstrreview.com

CIOB teams up with new Maltese body to professionalise construction management

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the newly established Malta Chamber of Construction Management (MCCM) to support the professionalisation of construction in the country.

The MoU commits the parties for the next three years to cooperate on education and training, and "to raise the profile and recognition of professional management in construction and projects for the benefit of the industry, its clients and society at large."

It sees the CIOB providing discounts for MCCM members on selected courses run by the CIOB Academy; working with MCCM to develop the standards for a Certified Construction Manager; and facilitating MCCM members in their progression towards MCIOB and FCIOB status following the required legislation changes in Malta and the required CIOB mapping process.

Formed this year, the MCCM aims to promote high standards in quality, ethics and innovation.

"There is no doubt that in Malta there are a good number of construction managers of various levels, with years of experience," MCCM president Jesmond Chetcuti MCIOB said at a press conference Wednesday, 4 August. "However, not all of them, for some reason or another, have the academic background to complement their experience."

He said this was being addressed through collaborations with local and foreign educational institutions, adding that the MoU "seeks to send a strong message that the Chamber is looking at quality and not quantity."

"I want to thank Jesmond and the Minister, the Honourable Ian Borg, who made time to meet with me during my visit last year and talk about the priorities for the construction sector in Malta and how CIOB could help," said CIOB chief executive Caroline Gumble. "And now so much progress has been made. Those conversations about professionalism, about quality, about how the experience and skills of construction managers can be recognised and supported feel like they’ve come to life."

"It is vital that we don’t shrink away from some of the challenges that being a construction professional can pose," she added. "As professionals, we have undertaken to think about the challenges and take responsibility to do whatever we can, as individuals, to ensure the quality of the built environment.

"That is why ethical standards – the foundation of trust – are such an important part of CIOB’s mission. For those of you who are already CIOB members, and those of you who I hope will become members, we set and maintain the standards in our code of conduct, principles such as acting with integrity, honesty and trustworthiness, treating others with respect at all times, and being accountable for our decisions and actions."

News

Meeting with the Minister for Infrastructure and the CIOB CEO

An invitation to Mrs Caroline Gumble, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Building was initiated by local CIOB representative Jesmond Chetcuti MCIOB AMICE. Mrs Caroline Gumble, visited Malta in February 2020and as part of her visit, a meeting was organized with the Hon Dr Ian Borg Minister for Infrastructure. February 2020

The Chamber Statute

This document is considered of high importance given a foundation status and a document that shall provide the chamber the governance baseline. This document is intended to regulate and govern all the chamber doings including but not limited to the membership and eligibility, the setting up of the council and the duties of each official within its administration. February 2021

Meeting with the Opposition Political Party

The President and Vice President of the Malta Chamber of Construction Management, Jesmond Chetcuti MCIOB and Karl Azzopardi FCIOB, last week met with the Leader of the Opposition Party, Hon Dr Bernard Grech, the Shadow minister for construction, Hon Dr Hermann Schiavone and Ing. Rebekah Cilia. 1st May 2021

The Chamber Membership Board

The Chamber Membership Board will be acting as the `gate keeper` of the chamber as it will be reviewing and vetting every membership application. The first CMB members are: Nick Vassallo- Council Member , Andrei Cachia- Council Member, Reno Vassallo- Chamber Member, Ed Howell-Chamber Member April 2021

Legal recognition for the Construction Project Manager The necessity of the legal recognition for the profession of the Construction Project Manager is the baseline for the setting up of the chamber. As one of the major players within the construction industry and the project life,it is high time that the CPM is recognized. We believe that management is key to successful execution of a construction project and the perceived local interpretation of a Construction Project Manager’s role is to change drastically. The role, benefits and value adding aspects that a construction project manager provides to the project’s delivery cycle are areas that need tobe communicated and emphasized on. March 2021

Meeting with the Parliament Secretary Hon Chris Agius A meeting with Hon Chris Agius was scheduled during the month of March and attended by representatives from the Chamber during which the collaboration between Government and Chamber was re-confirmed and hence resumed. March 2021

Chamber Registration

Assisted by the chamber’s legal advisor Dr Ivan Mifsud, the administrators and acting council members signed the documentation relative to the chamber’s official registration as well as that related to the Malta Business Registry. The Malta Chamber of Construction Management is now an official body. 2nd March 2021

The Quintano Report

The Quintano Report is a report that was commissioned by the Office of the Prime Minister subsequent to the Hamrun tragedy. The acting committee of the chamber appointed a sub committee to review this report and provide the chamber its review feedback to the same report. The members of this sub committee included Mr. Karl Azzopardi-Chairman of the sub committee, Mr. Reno Vassallo, Mr. Andrei Cachia and Mr. Jesmond Chetcuti. The outcome of the review exercise would be subject to approval via the structures of the chamber, and shall be submitted to the chairman of the BICC and the Parliament Secretary for Construction. 2nd March 2020

Media

 28 th September 2021 by Robert Fenech and

Solomon Cefai - buisenessnow

Alleged dumping of injured migrant worker on pavement: ‘disgusting’ & ‘obscene’, say construction leaders

Leading stakeholders and experts in Malta’s construction industry have responded with disgust and outrage after footage emerged showing an injured migrant construction worker seemingly left abandoned at the side of a road after suffering an injury on a site.

According to passer-by Caroline Galea, who stopped to help the man, he fell two stories on a building site while at work. His employer is then said to have driven him off the site – ostensibly to hospital, before dumping him on the side of a road.

Speaking to BusinessNow.mt, three leading stakeholders in the construction industry decried the alleged actions of the employer in the harshest possible terms.

Deborah Schembri – Malta Developer Association

According to Deborah Schembri, CEO of the Malta Developers’ Association (MDA), one would have to be “inhumane” to not condemn the event “without reservation.” “We’re not the police,” she said, adding that the register of contractors overseen by the MDA had come to an early demise due to widespread complaints about its set up.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA), she said, is now working on its own register.

Malta Chamber of Construction Management

On behalf of the newly launched Malta Chamber of Construction Management (MCCM), its President Jesmond Chetcuti said the organisation was “shocked and disgusted to say the least.”

He decried that in 2021, individuals can still be treated like this, and said the incident showed the need to ensure that contractors are regulated, and an increasingly strict licensing regime enters into force.

“There is no place for situations of this nature,” he added.

While stressing that the facts surrounding the incident have not yet been confirmed, Dr Schembri said that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing should pay the “full legal price,” and considering this, she urged the police to do their “utmost” to get to the bottom of the situation.

Asked how the MDA would respond if the contractor was found to be a member of the the organisation, Dr Schembri explained that the lobby group was not set up to deal with such instances.

 30th September 2021 by Yannick Pace - lovinmalta

Construction Managers Call For Urgent Licensing Of Contractors But Say Self-Regulation Can Work

Malta needs to urgently ensure that contractors are regulated and operating under a strict licensing regime, the Malta Chamber for Construction Management has said.

The statement follows an incident earlier this week where a 32-year-old Ghanian migrant who fell two storeys while working on a construction site was dumped on the side of the road by his employer instead of being taken to the hospital.

In a reaction, the chamber said it was shocked and disgusted by the incident.

“It is unacceptable that a human being is treated in this way in 2021,” chamber president Jesmond Chetcuti said. “This shows the urgent need to ensure that contractors are regulated, and the need for a strict licensing regime to enter into force. There is no place for incidents of his nature.”

Referring to the incident, Chetcuti said that while details were still scant, it appeared that employment laws and health and safety regulations may have been broken.

“Moreover, irrespective of the law, it goes against human nature to fail to support and assist a fellow human,” Chetcuti said.  28th November 2021 by Alvin Vassallo

TVM News

Role of Project Manager in construction expected to be recognised as a profession by law

Parliamentary Secretary for the construction industry Chris Agius said that the Government is working on the recognition of the Project Manager’s work in construction as a profession in the Building and Construction Authority’s legislation. He was speaking during the first annual general meeting of the Chamber for the Management of Construction.

The Chamber’s president Jesmond Chetcuti said that the Chamber represents those involved in the management in construction on various levels, including those who do not possess qualifications or experience. These are persons who are tasked to monitor the performance of work in a construction site during the whole project.

“We assist them to address the selection of courses adaptable to them and, with regards to experience, those with qualifications but no experience, are guided on their future career”.

The Chamber for the Management of Construction was officially established last March on the first anniversary of the tragic death of Miriam Pace with the aim of addressing the shortcomings in the industry. The Chamber currently has 70 members and is processing 20 other applications.

We judge on experience and qualifications, which may take five weeks, through a specific board. We tell the applicant that following his review we may offer him that he will be in the categories of either tier 1, 2 or 3. If the applicant accepts our proposal, he becomes a member”.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius recalled that a bill was presented in 2020, which was approved by Parliament, to establish an authority to regulate the construction industry which is issuing and renewing the builders licences, among other responsibilities.

He added that draft regulations will be published for public consultation in the coming weeks to license contractors, while the Government is also planning the establishment of the necessary skills requisites for workers in the construction industry.

Sustainability

Rebuilding and rethinking cities; Urban regeneration

Chantal Stagno Navarra MCIOB

Cities have been created by mankind and they may be classified, as Rogers has stated, as the natural habitat of modern societies. The planning, design, building and, operating of such cities have resulted in the greatest destruction of nature. Alas, but cities are also disappointing since they do not fully provide an environment where society’s wellbeing is on the pinnacle. The following are different urban regeneration tools with the aim to improve our urban environments.

• Sustainable Urban regeneration addresses the physical environment where an improved built environment is considered; quality of life that includes the physical living conditions, cultural activities, or facilities; social welfare where it ensures that basic social services are available, an economic vision where the economic aspect with regards to employment and the opportunity of economic investment is accessible.

• Green urbanism seeks to redesign existing urban areas and encourages brownfield land development in order to reduce the ecological footprint, acknowledge the environmental impact, conserve green spaces whilst promoting a zero-carbon – zero-waste society. All these factors contribute to social wellbeing with a high-quality life.

• Biophilic urbanism is a fairly new approach where natural systems are integrated into the fabric of cities. By integrating nature within the built environment, it seeks to achieve the benefits of contact between people and nature.

• Resilient urbanism is a different approach to the above. It develops capacities with the aim to prepare cities to absorb future stresses on their socio-economic and environmental structures. It, therefore, supports dense mixed societies that diversify in use and users building types and public spaces by also promoting pedestrian priority, conserving and enhancing vibrant places and the community’s identity, enhancing the health of natural systems, and developing energy-efficient buildings with reduced environmental impact.

I have briefly outlined the four different approaches to urban regeneration. I believe that neither is independent of the other nor are they completely overlapped but they are complimentary and a strategy to incorporate all frameworks is worth delving into.

Heritage

Heritage Conference - Malta 2022

Joe Magro Conti - Advisor on Cultural Heritage Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government

In February 2022, representatives from CIOB and MCCM carried out a two-day reconnaissance visit to several cultural heritage sites in Malta and Gozo to determine their appropriateness for use during the November 2022 conference to be held in Malta with the theme of built heritage, re-adaptive use and response to climate control.

The reconnaissance visits included the Ġgantija Temples (WHS) in the sister islands of Gozo. At Ġgantija the purpose was more about the employment of megalithic construction methods used over 5000 year ago and about the routine monitoring of the climatic conditions through instruments and dataloggers recording temperature, humidity, wind intensity and direction and precipitation.

Visits also included the historic fortified urban centers of Ċittadella in Gozo, as well as Mdina, Valletta (WHS) and Cottonera in Malta. Here the emphasis was on showcasing building typologies in Maltese stone ranging from Medieval to recent times, the restoration works and the various uses of buildings and public spaces.

More intense was a visit to the ongoing restoration and rehabilitation works at the Grand Masters’ Palace at Valletta, now the President’s Palace as well as museum, and which includes the revamping of the Palace state rooms, the Armoury, other collections, and visitor’s facility’s apart from the President’s Offices. Here new climatic control technology is being intertwined with extant traditional passive measures of the old building dating from the late 16th century. Similarly, the visit to MuŻa - the National visual arts gallery at Valletta, also housed in a late 16th century building has been recently refurbished to be energy efficient by means of a BMS and the use of PV panels, double glazing and intelligent LED lighting systems.

Another visit was to Esplora at Kalkara, housed in a 19th century ex-British Naval Hospital and recently restored and refurbished for use as Malta’s first interactive science center using state of the art technology. The team also visited the Valletta Design Cluster, which was likewise recently restructured and fitted out to host artists, designers and community workshops within a 17th century building originally constructed as an abattoir, later converted into bakeries and barracks. The facility has double glazing, a retractable glass roofing with integrated PV panels over the central courtyard, restored the original water storage cisterns, and a roof garden for added insulation.

All the projects were co-founded by the European Union and part National funding. Thanks are due to Heritage Malta (Ġgantija, The Palace, MuŻa), The Malta Council for Science and Technology (Esplora), the Valletta Cultural Agency (Valletta Design Cluster) and their respective staff for facilitating the visits.