FIJI Association of Architects General Secretary Setoki Tuiteci said while the standard local construction contract was sound, many had switched to complex international versions.
Mr Tuiteci was reflecting on a presentation made by Massey University Professor Dr Naseem Ali, a professor on modernising construction contacts in Fiji during the Extra Fiji Architecture Conference and Trade Exhibition at the Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort in Denarau, Nadi.
“We have a standard building contract that has been used in Fiji since 1978, in the 1970s. It’s a good contract but over the years, people have opted to use international contracts, which are hard to understand. They are wordy,there’s nothing custom-made for here,” he said.
Dr Ali’s presentation conducted a review to address this complexity.
“That one is custom-made for here. So what he’s done is he’s taken the contract and he’s done a review and he has simplified it so that it’s easier to understand for us.”
Mr Tuiteci saw the updated contract as a major step for local empowerment in the construction sector.
“Now that will be a highlight of tomorrow for me, to look at that contract because then it empowers us in Fiji that we have our own contract that we can rely on. Things that we use.”
