Cayman’s Christmas clean-up campaign, the National Community Enhancement Project (NiCE) will be making its annual return, but with additional COVID-19 requirements, government has announced.
The project, which is run by the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure (PAHI,) is set to run from 6 Dec. to 23 Dec. and, unlike previous cohorts, this year’s selected participants will be required to undergo rapid lateral flow COVID-19 tests throughout their involvement in the programme.
“We are conscious of the environment in which they will be operating, so the Public Works Department which is overseeing the project will ensure the work teams engaged in NiCE wear masks, adhere to proper hygiene practices and social distancing protocols. The safety of the crews is very important to us,” PAHI minister Jay Ebanks said through a statement Monday afternoon.
The ministry, in announcing the new cohort, said the deadline for applications for the two-week programme will end Wednesday, 1 Dec.
The NiCE project last ran between 7 to 18 Dec. 2020 and again from 11 to 22 Jan. 2021, seeing some 742 people sign-up for the short-term employment programme.
Application forms are available at all district libraries, MPs’ offices, the Needs Assessment Unit, WORC and the public reception at the Government Administration Building.
“NiCE provides up to two-weeks paid work to unemployed Caymanians and spouses of Caymanians, ages 18 and over in a number of areas including the beautification and maintenance of roadside, parks, cemeteries and beaches,” the statement said.
Last time around, smaller work groups than usual were deployed to work with supervisors from WORC, the Department of Environment, Public Works Department and the National Roads Authority. Groups were also assigned to the Mosquito Research & Control Unit, a previous update on the project earlier this year had stated.
Ebanks said he was pleased that the ministry will be moving forward with the project to offer employment to out-of-work Caymanians.
“Given the economic challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the additional financial strains that the holiday season can pose, it is good we can put people to work,” he added.
Completed application forms must be placed in the NiCE drop boxes at the district public libraries, WORC or the Government Administration Building. Alternatively, they can be emailed to [email protected] or send via WhatsApp to 917-0153, no later than noon on Wednesday, 1 Dec.
Registration details for selected participants will be available at a later date.
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