Temporary Housing

Speaking to four proud new trailer home occupants last week, the Leader of Government Business, the Hon. McKeeva Bush, and CIRO Manager Orrett Connor, assured recipients that this was but a step towards their return to permanent accommodation.

“We hope that your situation would be resolved on a more permanent basis soon,” the Minister said, with Mr. Connor assuring: “The labours will go on,” he said, “the ultimate goal is to get people out of temporary homes and back into their homes. CIRO and the government were solidly committed to that goal and everything will be done to accelerate the process.”

These first four occupants, all single parents, included Mrs. Josepha Carter, whose husband died two years ago. She has three children, aged 7, 9, and 12 years; Ms Melanie Rankine Jackson, with six children, ranging in age from four years to 16. Mr. Leroy Bodden, who is raising three children, aged 8, 13 and 18 years; and Ms Christine Phillips, who has two daughters, aged 11 and 12.

The four new tenants received their keys on Friday (28 January) from Ms Catherine Tyson, Manager of the National Housing and Community Development Trust at a ceremony at the Ed Bush Sports Field. Up to nine single-parent families in West Bay were at that time lined up as occupants of trailers in the district of West Bay, with more expected.

The project is the outcome of the work of the temporary housing subcommittee of the Cayman Islands Recovery Operation (CIRO). Chairman and deputy chairman of the subcommittee are Mrs. Joy Basdeo and Mr. Doss Solomon, respectively.

Single parents with children under 17, the sick and elderly are being treated as top priority in accessing trailers, but once the needs of that group have been met, the programme will be opened up to other groups.

The rental aspects of the programme are being handed by the National Housing Trust. Persons wishing to procure a trailer should visit the CIRO Temporary Housing Office in McDonald Square, George Town.

The Leader of Government Business said that housing remains a priority of government. He thanked all civil servants for their efforts in solving this and other challenges for the public, sometimes placing the community’s needs above and beyond the needs of their own families.