One representative from each AAQS Practice Member may also attend as observers (may participate in discussions but with no voting powers)

Transcription

1 NOTICE DATED 8 JANUARY 2016 To: AAQS council members AAQS Institution Members AAQS Practice Members Mr Egon Wortmann (Website committee) Dear All AAQS EXCO MEETING AND JOINT AAQS/INSTITUTE OF BOTSWANA QUANTITY SURVEYORS SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN GABERONE, BOTSWANA ON 17 MARCH 2016 (AAQS EXCO) AND 18 MARCH 2016 (SEMINAR) Herewith relevant information: 1. Who should attend the AAQS exco meeting All AAQS executive committee members One representative from each AAQS Practice Member may also attend as observers (may participate in discussions but with no voting powers) Local AAQS Practice Members are specifically invited to attend Up to three representatives of the Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors are invited to attend as observers (may participate in discussions but with no voting powers) 2. Confirmed attendees A list of confirmed attendees will be issued in due course 3. Notification of attendance It is essential that all delegates notify the AAQS well in advance should they wish to attend in order that the necessary seating and catering arrangements may be made 4. Venue and hotel bookings The venue for both the exco meeting and the seminar is the Gaborone Sun, Gaborone, Botswana 1

2 The organising committee has provided the following information on suitable hotels for delegates : 4.1 Gaborone Sun : Daily room rate BWP2, including breakfast (refer to item 9 below for exchange rates) 11.7km from the airport Tel : gabsres@sunint.co.za Note : the organising committee will be asked whether they can obtain a discounted rate from the Gaborone Sun 4.2 Indaba Lodge : Daily room rate BWP1, excludes breakfast 14.9km form the airport and 3.2km form Gaborone Sun Tel : reception@indabalodge.co.bw 4.3 Cresta Lodge : Daily room rate BWP1, excludes breakfast 15.2 km from the airport and 4.4km from Gaborone Sun Tel : reslodge@cresta.co.bw 4.4 Metcourt Inn (at the Grand Palm Resort) BWP bed only 12.8km form the airport and 7.8km form Gaborone Sun Tel : metres@grandpalm.bw Delegates are to make their own hotel bookings 5. Transport from and to the airport 6. Flights The international airport is situated approximately 11.7 km from the venue where the meeting and seminar is to be held. Allow from 10 to 20 minutes to and from the venue depending on traffic All hotels listed above provide airport shuttle services on arrangement with the relevant hotel There are daily flights from OR Tambo airport Johannesburg by both Air Botswana and SA Airlink and less frequent flights from Nairobi by Kenya Air, the most relevant being : Air Botswana Wednesday 16 March Johannesburg/Gaborone BP210 Depart : 06:40 Arrive : 07:40 BP200 Depart : 08:30 2

3 Arrive : 09:30 BP208 Depart : 10:25 Arrive : 11:25 Thursday 17 March 2016 Johannesburg/Gaborone BP210 Depart : 06:40 Arrive : 07:40 Friday 18 March 2016 Gaborone/Johannesburg BP227 Depart : 15:15 Arrive : 16:15 BP201 Depart : 17:00 Arrive : 18:00 Saturday 19 March 2016 Gaborone/Johannesburg BP207 Depart : 08:30 Arrive : 09:30 BP203 Depart : 10:30 Arrive : 11:30 BP205 Depart : 13:30 Arrive : 14:40 BP227 Depart : 15:15 Arrive : 16:15 SA Airlink Wednesday 16 March Johannesburg/Gaborone SA1767 Depart :11:55 Arrive : 12:45 SA1775 Depart : 13:30 Arrive : 14:25 SA1783 Depart : 15:45 Arrive : 16:40 SA8458 Depart : 17:05 Arrive :18:00 SA1779 Depart : 18:10 Arrive : 19:05 Thursday 17 March 2016 Johannesburg/Gaborone 3

4 SA1761 Depart :06:55 Arrive : 07:50 Friday 18 March 2016 Gaborone/Johannesburg SA1776 Depart : 16:05 Arrive : 17:00 SA1784 Depart : 17:20 Arrive : 18:10 SA8459 Depart : 18:30 Arrive : 19:25 SA1780 Depart : 19:45 Arrive : 20:40 Saturday 19 March 2016 Gaborone/Johannesburg SA1764 Depart : 09:20 Arrive : 10:15 SA1768 Depart : 13:10 Arrive : 14:05 SA1776 Depart : 16:05 Arrive : 17:00 Kenya Air Delegates to check availability General note Delegates are advised to book flights early as the available flights could fill up quickly 7. Driving time from Johannesburg 7.1 The driving time from Johannesburg is approximately 5 hours including approximately 30 minutes to one hour allowed for border crossing 8. Programmes 8.1 The programme for the AAQS exco meeting on 17 March 2016 is as follows: Awaiting early morning arrivals from OR Tambo Johannesburg 09:00 to 09:30 Registration and tea/coffee 09:30 to 11:00 Meeting 4

5 11:00 to 11:45 Photograph and tea/coffee 11:45 to 13:00 Meeting 13:00 to 14:15 Finger lunch 14:15 to 15:45 Meeting 15:45 to 16 :15 Tea/coffee 16:15 to 18:00 Meeting 8.2 The theme, programme and seminar fees for the joint AAQS/Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors seminar have not yet been finalised but the organising committee has indicated that the programme will be fitted into the morning of Friday 18 March Depending on the financial arrangements including sponsorships, a light lunch may be provided At this stage the following subjects are to be addressed : Welcome by the chairman of the Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors Mr Robert Akanyang The AAQS : Aims, objectives and achievements by the president of the AAQS Prof Rob Pearl The new Standard Method of Measuring Building Work for Africa and the associated Model Bills of Quantities (such documents to be formally released to AAQS members during January 2016) by a speaker to be announced Other subjects as may fit into the theme of the seminar 9. Currency of country The currency of Botswana is the Pula. BWP1 = ZAR1.39 (varying) and US$1 = BWP11.35 (varying) 10. Visa requirements Visa requirements for citizens of the AAQS member countries are as follows: Required Ghana Nigeria Not required 5

6 Angola Kenya Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia South Africa Swaziland Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Delegates should, however, themselves check the visa requirements. The AAQS and/or the Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors should not be required to deal with visa applications other than providing a letter of invitation where required Those who require a letter of invitation for visa purposes should contact the secretary of the Institute of Botswana Quantity Surveyors at secretary@ibqs.co.za 6

7 11. Health Gaborone and environs is not classified as a malaria infected area 12. Those wishing to extend their stay Those wishing to extend their stay are more than welcome to visit Botswana game parks such as the magnificent Moremi, Chobe and of course the Okavango Delta. All these are situated in the northern part of the country. The Gaborone Game reserve with mainly antelopes and smaller species and also the Mokolodi Game reserve near Gaborone offers a variety of game viewing 13. Dress code The dress code for both the AAQS exco meeting and the seminar is smart casual (no ties required) 14. Agenda An agenda for the exco meeting will be issued to delegates in due course Kind regards AAQS Liaison Officer Tel: Fax: admin@aaqs.org.za 7