My Fellow Engineers,
The Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) continues to be the principal organisation dedicated to the development of engineers and the engineering profession in Barbados. BAPE provides opportunities for continuing professional development; advocates on related issues which impact our community; and educates our members, our leaders and the public about the role of engineers in society. We emphasize the importance of strengthening our engineering capacity in order to utilise the country’s resources efficiently and effectively as we improve and maintain the infrastructure necessary for the continued development of our community’s economic and social conditions.
Our engineers play a vital role in reducing the vulnerability of people and organisations to the effects of natural hazards in Barbados, the Caribbean and even further afield. The implementation of a national building code, provided it is accompanied by an efficient system of enforcement and administration, is expected to bring about substantial improvements in the quality of construction in Barbados. Our members have been active in developing building standards, and researching and promoting efficient modes of building code enforcement. They are leading efforts to diversify the sources of energy that drive our economy and to provide modern information and communication technologies essential for a competitive business environment and inclusion in an ever more connected global community.
This redesigned website will be a key knowledge management tool, allowing us to collect, share and retain what we know and to add to the body of knowledge of the organisation and its members. It will be continually updated, and together with the social media that we now use, it will provide a great point of communication for members and for others wishing to learn about us, or to share information about their products and services with us. We must acknowledge the efforts of Past President Antonio Elcock who was responsible for the redevelopment of this website.
The work of BAPE depends primarily on the efforts of volunteers whose efforts are supported by the dedicated staff of our secretariat. There are many opportunities for our members to contribute through work on committees, through preparing and presenting technical and non-technical articles to members and the public, through representing BAPE on the various national committees and organisations on which we serve, though our work with schools, through the provision of public commentary on topical issues, through their support of BAPE initiatives, and in countless other ways. BAPE has had a proud and distinguished past. With the valued assistance of our many partners, we look forward to working together to build an even brighter future.
