Construction World August 2020

procurement systems for infrastructure development, where currently, we put most of the emphasis on discounting the costs of the services of professionals service providers and invariably gravitate towards the least cost, without considering the potential impact on the quality of the infrastructure and the longer term total cost of ownership, the bulk of which is in the cost of operations and maintenance,” he said. When considering the capacity constraints in the technical arena, Campbell reiterated that it was recognised some time ago already, that the bulk of the engineering capacity, that used to be within the public sector, now resides in the private sector. Despite previous attempts at offering to SDUWQHU ZLWK WKH SXEOLF VHFWRU RYHU WKH SDVW FRXSOH RI \HDUV ZH DUH H[FLWHG WKDW ͤQDOO\ LW ORRNV DV WKRXJK WKLV RIIHU LV QRZ EHLQJ WDNHQ XS ̸,W PDNHV sense to use the private sector capacity on a good governance model basis, to supplement and complement the limitations in capacity that the SXEOLF VHFWRU LV FXUUHQWO\ H[SHULHQFLQJ ZLWK WKH GHOLEHUDWH REMHFWLYH RI UH establishing what many refer to as a capable State”, he averred. Commenting on the onerous tender procedures, Campbell further said, “If we are to get this right then we have to look at the cost of doing business and the tender process as it relates to the commissioning of the services of Built Environment Professionals in the Infrastructure Development process. Currently such companies spend an inordinate amount of money and time in responding to bid requirements, many of which are administrative and differing from one public sector entity to another, whereas this process could EH EHWWHU FRQGXFWHG LQ PDQQHU WKDW DOORZV IRU PRUH HͦFLHQW XWLOLVDWLRQ RI resources and an overall reduction in the cost of doing business." He further added that we should map out a development and delivery strategy that is both short-term in meeting the immediate needs of our economy and the industry, as well as long term in respect of sustainability, so that we get away from the repetitive feast and famine cycle. “Prior to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, we embarked on various simultaneous big build projects and then almost immediately after, in keeping with the National Infrastructure Plan in 2012, the Strategic Infrastructure Projects, which process was unfortunately derailed by corruption, coupled with poor economic growth and affordability and what followed is an almost total decimation of our local construction sector, with engineering graduates XQDEOH WR ͤQG HPSOR\PHQW DQG PDQ\ PRUH MRE RSSRUWXQLWLHV WKDW WKH industry would have been able to provide, being lost,” Campbell stated. In his closing remarks, he acknowledged that the symposium was the beginning of a plan of action and that it was the opportunity for all of us as citizens to get the country’s growth path back on track, whilst at the same WLPH ZH ZRUN DZD\ WKH WUXVW GHͤFLW EHWZHHQ WKH SXEOLF DQG SULYDWH VHFWRU ̸:H QHHG WR EH OLNH WKDW FROOHFWLYH ͥRFN RI ELUGV WKDW ͥ\ WRJHWKHU IURP WKHLU SHUFKHV ZLWK D FRPPRQ SXUSRVH QRW GLYLGHG ZKHUH VRPH ͥ\ DZD\ DQG others remain on that perch, hampered by doubt and indecision, remaining there for however long,” he concluded. ƒ “Prior to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, we embarked on various simultaneous big build projects and then almost immediately after, in keeping with the National Infrastructure Plan in 2012, the Strategic Infrastructure Projects, which process was unfortunately derailed by corruption, coupled with poor economic growth and affordability and what followed is an almost total decimation of our local construction sector."

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD AUGUST 2020