First Travel-Trailer Homes Arrive

With the arrival of the first 28 temporary travel-trailer homes this week (Wednesday,19 January), CIRO's Temporary Housing Committee is on the threshold of achieving its goal - bringing welcome respite to some of Cayman's hardest hit by Hurricane Ivan.

First priority in the allocation of the new trailer homes has been given to single-parent families with children under 17 years, as well as to the elderly and sick. Thirty-four homes have already been allocated to persons in this category.

The mobile homes each have a queen-sized bed and bedroom, a pullout sofa-bed, a dinette area, a 14 cubic-foot fridge, a microwave and a three-burner propane stove, bunk beds, shower, toilet faculties and air conditioning.

Safety features include smoke alarms and propane detectors. Each unit is wired for telephone, cable, sewage and water services.

An additional 12 temporary homes are slated to arrive by the end of January. Other shipments will follow, with an additional 44 homes slated for the government scheme.

Each home is made available at a cost of $500per/month and may be leased on a quarterly basis, for up to two years.

Project Manager Thomas Ebanks is coordinating the preparation and installation at three government sites. The three designated sites are the old Dr. Hortor Hospital site, off Fairbanks Road; property behind the Frances Bodden Girls' Home, and the Ed Bush Field in West Bay.

Qualifying individuals may also opt to have trailers installed on their existing property.

The homes have been taken from the dock into storage prior to allocation to respective district or individual home sites.

A CIRO representative will be stationed at each of the three community compounds to manage the sites. Community and corporate support may include the establishment of playgrounds for the benefit of children.

Mr. Doss Solomon, deputy chairman of the committee, said that private individuals may also import trailer homes. To do so, they must obtain a licence from the Financial Secretary's Office and provide a $2,000 bond to ensure the trailers are returned (off-island) when they are no longer necessary, at which point the deposit will be returned.

The committee is developing an "exit strategy" for all CIRO-imported homes.

Mrs. Joy Basdeo, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, heads the Temporary Housing Committee. Having allocated all priority one applicants, the committee is now moving to assign homes to approved individuals in order of priority.