CBA Clears San Pedro Building Unit to Continue Operations

The Central Building Authority (CBA) has confirmed that the San Pedro Building Unit is cleared to continue operating after lifting its decertification on October 30. The authority clarified the unit’s status on Monday, November 2nd, following concerns about the impact on building applications and inspections.
The CBA had decertified the unit effective October 21st, citing repeated breaches of the country’s Building Act. In its notice, the authority said it had assumed jurisdiction over pending and new applications, plan reviews, and building inspections within San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye.
On October 29th, however, the San Pedro Building Unit and the San Pedro Town Council said services had continued uninterrupted while discussions with the CBA were underway. They said they had requested clarification and supporting documentation, including an audit report and details of the circumstances that led to the decision. The council also asked the CBA to reconsider the decertification and committed to addressing any outstanding deficiencies.
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, said the unit had not consistently followed the Building Act’s rules and regulations or the CBA’s requirements for approving plans.
“The Building Unit is authorized to approve plans up to 5,000 square feet, and we have been observing from time to time that this has been ignored,” Moody said. “It continued to happen even after discussions with the building unit and even after we have visited with the municipality through CBA as we advised them of the discrepancies we have seen.”
Moody said discussions with the town council were ongoing regarding the requirements for compliance.
Following further review, the CBA lifted the decertification on October 30. CBA Director Derick Calles said the parties had agreed on changes needed to address the identified shortcomings.
Although the CBA had not issued an updated public notice at the time of reporting, its November 2nd confirmation clarified that the unit was cleared to continue operating. According to the town council, services remained uninterrupted throughout the discussions, with the unit continuing to operate from the council’s offices.