About Us

History

Born out of the initiative and altruistic spirit of members of the private sector and with the support and collaboration of government representatives, The Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund (CINRF) was launched on 23rd September 2004, in response to Hurricane Ivan, which devastated Grand Cayman on 11th September 2004.

Hurricane Ivan represented the worst hurricane to hit the Caribbean in 10 years and its damage to the infrastructure and all productive sectors of the Cayman Islands' economy was on the scale of 183 per cent of GDP for the year prior to hurricane.

Against the background of the severity of the damage, the CINRF was also born out of a recognition that Ivan's devastating impact would put considerable strain on government resources and recovery would require private support.

The CINRF was set up as a private, independent Trust to assist the people of the Cayman Islands in recovering from Hurricane Ivan. The Fund is administered by a Board of Trustees, led by His Excellency, the Governor, Mr. Stuart Jack.

The CINRF receives donations to support its recovery efforts.

Fund Accountability

All donations received by CINRF are administered in accordance with its goal to assist persons adversely affected by Hurricane Ivan. Critical to this process is the role of the Enforcer, who has responsibility for ensuring that funds are disbursed in strict accordance to the Trust deed. The Enforcer is Mr. Andrew Jones, QC, Partner in the law firm, Maples and Calder.

The Fund at Work

Since its inception, the CINRF has focused on providing housing assistance to residents whose properties were uninsured and those who could least afford the costs of repairs. Special focus has been placed on residences with young children, the elderly and the infirm.

The CINRF has directly assisted approximately 4,500 persons or some 18% of the indigenous/natal Caymanian population, with new or repaired houses and furnishings and/or appliances.

The CINRF launched several initiatives to raise funds in the Cayman community, and the private sector and individuals responded in many ways, including direct cash donations and fundraising on behalf of the CINRF.

In the autumn of 2007 the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) committed an additional CI$4 million through the National Recovery Fund to complete the rebuilding process and assist in improving the housing stock of Cayman for those who do not have the ability to do so for themselves.