Events & Speeches

Welcome Address by Justice Chao Hick Tin, Chairman, Singapore Mediation Centre
Building And Construction Industry Security Of Payment Adjudicator Accreditation Ceremony

Thursday, 31 March 2005 at City Hall Chamber

Honourable Minister of State for National Development and Defence, Distinguished Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen, Good Morning.

At the outset let me say that we at the Singapore Mediation Centre would like to express our appreciation to the Honourable Minister for gracing this occasion with his presence.

It is indeed an honour for Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) to be appointed as the sole Authorised Nominating Body pursuant to the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act. However, we realize that with this honour comes the weighty responsibility of ensuring that the adjudication process envisaged under the Act is carried out efficiently and effectively. Towards meeting these targets, SMC has been busy with the back-end registry work of ensuring that all the necessary documentation such as the procedural rules, codes of conduct, schedules of fees, forms and checklists are in place. I am pleased to announce that the registry of the SMC is fully geared-up and is now ready to provide the adjudication services.

A critical requirement in the delivery of adjudication services will be the provision of skilled and proficient adjudicators. It has been said that the task of an adjudicator may be even more demanding than that of an arbitrator. Two main reasons have often been cited. First, an adjudicator has to work within extremely demanding timelines. Generally an adjudicator under the Act has no more than 14 days to make a determination from the commencement of adjudication. Second, the adjudicator, unlike an arbitrator, would not have had the benefit of an exhaustively argued case by two opposing parties to help him arrive at a determination. Because of these demands, SMC wishes to ensure that only the most experienced and competent should be appointed as adjudicators. Thus, every applicant who wishes to be appointed an adjudicator is required to go through a training course which culminates in a very exacting 3½ hour written assessment. We are all too conscious that ultimately the quality of an adjudication rests on the shoulders of the adjudicator. Everyone of you who is accredited today has successfully completed the course which should hold you in good stead in meeting the challenges ahead. I have full confidence that every adjudicator accredited today will discharge the tasks expected of him or her with fairness and due despatch.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Construction Adjudicator Accreditation Committee, under the Chairmanship of the second Solicitor-General, Mr Lee Sieu Kin, and the teaching faculty, have worked very hard and sacrificed much time in conducting the Adjudicator training course and assessment. I would therefore like to thank Mr Lee Seiu Kin, and the members of the teaching faculty, namely, Mr Chow Kok Fong, Mr Wong Meng Meng S.C., Mr Seah Choo Meng, Mr Johnny Tan and Mr Tan Ee Ping. The feedback we received from the participants of the first training course was that the faculty did an outstanding job.

Today, we are gathered at this ceremony to accredit the first batch of persons who have successfully completed the course and will be appointed to the SMC's register of SOP adjudicators. Those of you who are familiar with the personalities of the construction industry will no doubt be touched by the fact that we have here a most impressive list of individuals, all of whom are leading lights in the construction industry.

In closing, I would like to congratulate all of you who are the first batch of SOP adjudicators. May I wish you every success in the discharge of your responsibilities as adjudicators.

Thank you.