An accommodation block that will house construction workers for Cayman Brac’s new high school and other future development projects has been officially opened.
The Juliana O’Connor-Connolly-headed UPM government announced the opening of the two single-storey dormitory buildings on Thursday, less than a week before the 30 April election. A handover ceremony, marking that the facility was ready to open, was held last month.
The facility, understood to have cost at least $8.5 million, includes 38 rooms where construction teams and service providers can be accommodated.
A lack of accommodation for such workers on the island has hampered infrastructure developments in the past, O’Connor-Connolly said in a press release announcing the opening.
“We are not just opening a building, we are removing a long-standing barrier to development,” the premier, who is also the minister of district administration, said.
“By providing appropriate accommodations for skilled workers and visiting teams, we are saying that Cayman Brac is ready not just for growth, but for smart, managed progress that enhances the lives of our people.”
The buildings are located on the Bluff, beside the Cayman Brac Sports Complex and multi-purpose hall on an 18.1-acre site.
Acting chief officer for the Ministry of District Administration and Lands Wilbur Welcome described the project as a practical response to long-standing logistical challenges.
“This facility helps remove the bottlenecks that have slowed down major infrastructure projects in the past,” he said.
“It supports progress not just by what it provides, but by what it enables, including faster timelines, more access to talent, and stronger outcomes for the people of Cayman Brac.”
Among the first expected to use the new dormitory accommodation are the workers who will be building the new Cayman Brac high school and gymnasium.
It is anticipated the block will also be used by visiting school and sports teams, and will also double as a hurricane shelter.
