Message from the Chairman
His Excellency, The Governor of the Cayman Islands
Mr Stuart Jack, CVO
The 11th September 2008 marked the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Ivan and its devastating impact on the Cayman Islands. Since then, the National Recovery Fund has been working diligently to ensure housing in Cayman is as hurricane-proof as possible. Our aim has been to ensure a high standard of quality in all the work we do so that rebuilt and repaired homes can withstand wind speeds in excess of 135mph in the future. We have also been retro-fitting hurricane shutters on properties we’ve recently built to protect the investments made in the aftermath of Ivan by private donors, the Government and the European Union.
While our hope was that we would never again see a hurricane as destructive as Ivan, on 8 November 2008, a category 4 hurricane hit Cayman Brac and Little Cayman with a sustained wind speed of 140 mph. Hurricane Paloma served as a harsh reminder that the vital work we have been doing on Grand Cayman will need to be replicated on our sister islands.
Hurricane Ivan was a salutary lesson for us all about how the forces of nature can bring a country of great economic strength and human enterprise to its knees. I am very proud of the people of Cayman and of the many donors and organizations that have worked hard to rebuild in the aftermath of Ivan. Now, as we begin to evaluate and concentrate our efforts on the effects of Paloma, it is necessary for us all to redouble our efforts to “Build Back Better” on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
As Chairman of the National Recovery Fund, I am proud to say it has assisted in various ways some 20% of the Cayman born population since their homes were ravaged by Ivan. In the past four years, several hundred homeowners have been assisted with repairs, rebuilds and essential furnishings. The great generosity of the private sector and individual contributors in this effort cannot be overemphasized. It has been a tremendous investment in the future. Unfortunately, our work does not end here. Since Paloma hit, we have a new, double objective; to finish our work on Grand Cayman and focus our energy anew on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
As we look to the next two to three years, we are most grateful for the assistance of the European Union who offered us a grant of some 7 million Euros ($9.2 million) in conjunction with the Government of the Cayman Islands. This money is to be used to help those whom the National Recovery Fund has been unable to assist to date. These include people in temporary housing and trailers, as well as those who are elderly or too poor to afford basic housing after their previous accommodation was destroyed by Ivan.
The National Recovery Fund looks forward to using this money in the final stage of its efforts following Ivan. But we are also readying ourselves for the work that needs to be done on the sister islands. Thus far, we have received over 200 applications from Cayman Brac. There is much repair and rebuilding work still to be done, but we are dedicated to preserving the well-being and prosperity of the people of the Cayman Islands and we thank everyone for their continued support.
Stuart Jack, CVO
Chairman and Governor of the Cayman Islands
January 2009
