The long-under-construction Church of God Chapel in West Bay has been given a $450,000 grant from the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development to help it complete a designated emergency shelter for the community.
The ministry, in a statement Thursday, announced the monetary contribution, saying that it also included $150,000 from the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, that was “made available due to prudent use of capital budget savings in 2023 from both Ministries”.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Social Development André Ebanks, in the statement, said the grant is a multi-purpose community investment.
“One that provides a meaningful contribution towards 1) an additional secure shelter in the district of West Bay, which currently has a severe shortage; 2) an additional space for social programmes; and 3) beautification of the district. Furthermore, this community investment for public policy purposes should stimulate fundraising efforts by the Church to bring the project to fruition,” he said.
The church, which suffered structural damage caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, had been earmarked for reconstruction through a combination of insurance proceeds, fundraising efforts, and support from the McKeeva Bush-led government more than a decade ago.
However, the church stands only 60% completed, a ministry statement said, adding that it “has languished while construction costs have risen over time”.
“The district of West Bay has grown considerably since the project began making the need for the building’s completion and the additional emergency shelter space it will provide all the more pressing,” the statement said.
It said the church’s new 10,296-square-foot building is complemented by the existing 4,118 sq ft hall and “is at a pivotal stage with walls erected, hurricane-grade windows installed, a front glass door in place, lobby lights installed, and the roof of the lobby successfully completed”.
However, it is still without a main roof.
Since 2007, the statement said, the Church of God Chapel has pledged to use the new building as an emergency shelter for hurricanes and other major disasters as well as a community centre where the Department of Children and Family Services can provide social programmes for the residents of West Bay.
“The church estimates that the new building, when operating as a shelter, can comfortably accommodate 200 people. The facility features four restrooms (including two in the adjoining Church hall) with seven toilets, two showers, a fully functional kitchen, and provisions for an on-site generator. A large cistern under the Church Hall ensures a reliable water supply,” it added.
‘Completion is crucial’
Danielle Coleman, director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, stressed the importance of this project, saying completion is crucial for West Bay, especially considering the limited availability of emergency shelters in the district, which currently only have capacity for 625 people.
“In times of heightened vulnerability during adverse weather events and other large-scale emergencies, the need for secure shelters cannot be overstated,” she added.
Hazard Management, in consultation with the Public Works Department, will be working with the church to ensure the new emergency shelter is built in accordance with international shelter specifications, she added.
Pastor Stanwyck Myles, on behalf of the church and the congregation, expressed gratitude for the financial assistance.
The statement said the church aims to raise a total of $1 million to finish the facility and supporting infrastructure.
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