ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, November 19th, 2013 - The Building Authority has a new tool with which to enhance the execution of its functions and keep it abreast of the move by Government to advance its e-Government initiative.
The authority now has a custom-made database which provides an electronic system for the management of building applications. The database developed by local company, Farara Business Solutions, is designed to help the Building Authority process building applications more efficiently, compile more accurate records, facilitate the easy retrieval of those records and enhance the information sharing capabilities among departments.
Building Inspector Supervisor, Mr. Perry Penn is quite keen to begin fully tilizing the database and witness the change in operations that it is likely to bring. “A database of this nature is long in coming,” he said, adding that “It will reduce the amount of time spent making calls to agents or the Town and Country Planning Department to enquire about the status of applications.
Mr. Penn further described the database as a much-needed added convenience. “It will enable officers in the department to get on the computer, access the system and immediately know the exact status of an application that has been submitted for approval. We will be able to respond to our clients more efficiently! It also gives us the ability to conduct research and queries before applications are actually submitted to our office and provide greater accountability in ensuring that inspections are performed in keeping with departmental standards and building regulations,” he stated.
Officers in the department have already been provided with demonstrations of how the system works and are currently in the process of populating the database and familiarising themselves with its various functions. The department plans to begin using the database in early December and Mr. Penn expects the immense benefits to be immediately visible.
The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) was instrumental in securing the database for the Building Authority which is linked to the existing Mitigation and Planning Database currently in use by the Town and Country Planning Department. The creation of these systems will allow the DDM to monitor how mitigation issues are being addressed and how the recommendations provided as part of the Hazard Vulnerability Assessment process are being applied.
DDM Director Ms. Sharleen DaBreo commented, “It is important that such a system is readily available to provide an analysis of planning and building applications and to assist in better monitoring and evaluating development practices throughout the Territory.”
Ms. Da Breo said the creation of the database provides an example of Government’s commitment to furthering the e-Government initiative. She noted too that it allows for the integration of three critical development components – disaster risk reduction, physical planning and construction.
“Together, these processes demonstrate how these processes can contribute to safer and more environmentally sustainable practices in a Territory that is vulnerable to a number of hazards and which must be considered in its thrust to maintain a fragile environmental system while ensuring that economic opportunities are available to contribute to a safe and comfortable lifestyle for residents,” the DDM Director said.
The database project was funded under the Comprehensive Disaster Management Harmonized Implementation Programme (CDM-HIP), through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
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