Architects are fighting to close a loophole in the local legislation on their profession which allows `just about any who can draw' to offer architectural services.

Fraser Butterworth, the secretary of the Institute of Bermuda Architects (IBA), told The Royal Gazette this week, the group are in advanced discussions with Government toward having the legislation changed to prevent this confusion.

Mr. Butterworth said the IBA meets once a month and generally has to deal with two complaints at each meeting relating to architectural work that has been done by people who are not qualified architects.

"People generally call us complaining that someone has done them wrong and asking what we can do about," Mr. Butterworth said. "About ten times out of ten, the answer, unfortunately, is that the person was not an architect and we can't deal with it.

"All we can say is `caveat emptor' (a Latin phrase meaning `buyer beware')."

The problem, Mr. Butterworth explained, is while Bermuda's 1969 Architects Registration Act carefully described who could and could not be called an `architect' it did not set out specifically what an architect was or could do.

As a result, while all those specifically designated architects have the appropriate educational backgrounds and qualifications and also carry insurance covering liability, many of those offering `architectural services', do not.

In Bermuda however, the "popular conception of an architect is someone who can draw, knows about buildings, can write Planning applications and look after people's interests with regard to building," Mr. Butterworth said. "Because of the deficiencies in the present act, anyone can do that and the public generally perceives that person to be an architect."

While legitimate architects try to dissuade their clients from using other services, people often perceive that is just price competition. Government is expected to bring legislation to Parliament this year to address this current discrepancy.

"The new registration act will allow for better identification of what architects are and can do," Mr. Butterworth said.

"A lot of the building work going on at the moment is being done by unqualified people who are uninsured and have no liability if taken to court."

Mr. Butterworth compared the situation with someone "with a modicum of knowledge about medicine" being able to offer medical services.

Certified architects normally complete a five year degree which culminates in Masters in Architecture, he explained.

That is followed by two years of professional practice working in the field before the Architects Registration Council considers applying the designation of registered architect.

That practice is standard in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom as well as Bermuda, Mr. Butterworth said.

The be an IBA member, architects must be registered and working in the profession, he said.

embers are also covered by a collective health plan, insurance plan, pension plan and have collective liability insurance although they are employed by an array of different.

More importantly, he added, they are covered by collective liability insurance which protects the clients they serve.