Belizean builders have grown accustomed to cement from Central America
– whether it’s Cemento Maya from Mexico, Cessa from El Salvador
or Bijao from Honduras. Indeed, Belize’s post – modern construction
boom was driven by materials these companies. But now there’s a new players
on the market – and what makes it news is that it’s a product not
from Central America, but from Jamaica – imported into Belize cheaper
because it enjoys the Caricom Single Market and Economy tariff – which
is lower for goods form the Caribbean.
But will Belizeans embrace. Like we said, all those cement houses are
built by Central American Brands. But, the importer thinks so, and he should
know because he’s the same person who imports Cessa from Salvador. Pete
Lizarraga told us that Carib cement is coming at the right time for Belize –
but we asked his visiting cement expert, how can you make sure that your house
is sufficiently strong to stand up to a storm.
Pete Lizarraga, Importer
“We have invested close to US$200 million into upgrading and bringing
the plant up to date with the latest technology in cement production in the
world. This brings about an interesting scenario, they have a lot of surplus
capacity and as such they have been looking for export markets within the Caribbean.
As you know they fabricate a cement for Caribbean environment which suits our
environment in Belize. That cement is perfectly suited for marine conditions
and construction condition that we have in Belize. Carib has come to Belize
with a commitment of more than just trying to sell cement and our approach has
been to more educate the Belizean contractor and the Belizean engineers gearing
towards the proper use of cement and proper construction practices.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Most prospective builders are of the view that hey, just build your house
out of cement. We view it in a very non-specific way, the house is built out 
of cement. Everybody knows cement is strong, it is fire proof, it can withstand
any thing. How would you help to educate, not the engineer, the prospective
homebuilder who operates from a position of very little technical knowledge?
How would you help that person to safeguard the most important investment they’ll
make in their lives, to make sure that it is what they think it is?”
Dr. Robin W.A. Osborne, Associate Professor
“If you ask me to say that in as few words as possible I would say
control of the water to cement in the mixture of concrete and then treat that
concrete with proper compaction and curing procedures.”
Jules Vasquez,
“So what should they tell their contractor, what should they insist upon,
what they go to the worksite and try to oversee as it regards the concrete?”
Dr. Robin W.A. Osborne,
“Soup is good for eating but soup is not good for building. The rubbish
concrete, the soupy concrete has no place on a responsible construction site.
That is number one because its strength may be one half or one third of what
it should be and it is durability may be one fifth or one seventh of what it
can be at very little difference in cost. So it is very important that the mixtures
be controlled and the practices be controlled in construction. Sadly, I have
found a large body of lack of knowledge in Belize regarding the basic concrete
technology and construction good practice.”
Jules Vasquez,
“You referred to soup, should I look for a certain thickness?”
Dr. Robin W.A. Osborne,
“Yes indeed. There is a rude remark that you probably cannot put on
the air and that is that a good load of “cow down” in the pasture
is for a normal concrete a reasonable indicator of quality. But if the cow has
diarrhea you have a serious problem. In other words the concrete should not
be sloppy and too wet.”
Pete Lizarraga,
“When you are building educate yourself, make sure you get a contractor
that is reputable. Look at the work that he has done in the past, do your research
properly, make sure you have proper architectural; drawings, and it will not
hurt to get an engineer come on site to inspect different phases of your construction.
I think any cement on the Belizean market can perform admirable under good
conditions. Many times you have contractors that have horrible construction
practices, use poor water cement ratio, use poor aggregates, and blame it on
the cement. And I think as somebody in the cement industry it is our duty and
our job to start this education process, to educate the homeowner as to the
things to look for.”
Dr. Robin W.A. Osborne,
“One of the things for example that has grieved him particularly is
to go to visit a particular construction which will remain nameless and to find
probably, my own guess, $20 to $25 million of condominium construction and no
building professional associated with the project for quality management and
guidance and major errors of technical practice being committed by a foreman
who we speak with, we give some gentle advice, he starts to implement the advice
immediately and sees improvement within hours of his reduction of water in his
concrete because he is open, he is hungry for knowledge. So this speaks to me
of a great blot paper, hungriness or hunger for training for many of our people.”
Pete Lizarraga,
“Carib has come to Belize committed to try to uplift construction
standards in the country and it brings also to Belize another opportunity. We
have a ship coming to Belize every two weeks with cement which will create an
interesting scenario of going back empty. Now as Belizean entrepreneurs this
is something that I see as a golden opportunity for Belize. Belize should be
the breadbasket of the Caribbean as we always say and we are actually shipping
beans to Jamaica right now and we could do so more economically on this ship.”
Carib is available locally and Lizaragga says he has already moved
two shipments.
Email
Print