More Trailers

In addition to the 40 travel trailers ordered as part of Phase One of the Cayman Islands Recovery Operation’s (CIRO) Temporary Housing Project, another 44 trailers are in the pipeline. The trailers are currently being manufactured and are scheduled to arrive in the next 6-7 weeks. The majority will be 35ft long, larger than the first batch.

To date, 28 trailers have arrived on the island and plans are underway to install them on either private property or one of three community sites in West Bay, George Town or Bodden Town.

Seven trailers were handed over to tenants at the Ed Bush Sports Field in West Bay on Friday, 28 January. One more was transported to a private site in Bodden Town earlier this week and plans are also in place to deliver a total of seven trailers to the Bodden Town community site (off Cumber Ave), with three being scheduled for delivery on Friday, 4 February. Delivery to the George Town community site at the Dr. Hortor Memorial site on Fairbanks Road has been delayed until the required site preparations have been completed.

Deputy Chairman of the Temporary Housing Committee Doss Solomon said, “The overall site preparations are causing delays for delivery of the trailers, but we are determined to put people into an environment that is as habitable and pleasant as possible.”

A trailer site needs to meet certain requirements, including access to a 30 amp (female) power connection and a water source. Also, land on which the trailer will be placed needs to be even or levelled. If the site has not been prepared correctly, a trailer will not be installed. Mr. Solomon explained: “People are telling us that proper preparations have been made, but that is not always the case. We are now carrying out site inspections prior to delivery to ensure that all the requirements are met.”

The remaining 12 of the first 40 trailers ordered are scheduled to arrive early next week. They have already been allocated and details will be finalized when they arrive. “Even after trailers have been allocated, some people continue to make repairs on their homes, or opt to stay with relatives. Accordingly, when trailers become available, we will call applicants once again to determine their current situations,” concluded Mr. Solomon.