Four families were recently handed keys to their new homes, marking another milestone in the provision of affordable housing on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Ms Felicia McFarland and her daughter Tasha were the first recipients of the day, as the Hon. Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly JP and Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell cut ribbons and presented keys to the latest families to benefit from the Sister Islands Affordable Housing Development Corporation (SIAHDC) programme.
The moments of elation and emotion were repeated when daycare teacher Janilee Douglas received her house keys; followed by Mrs. Derrylee Martin-Rankine and her son Fabio; and then Alton and Carmelena Maxam and their two children.
The two three-bedroom and two two-bedroom residences are located in a quaint neighbourhood off Alta Vista Drive on the Bluff. The homes, complete with modern amenities, are secure, cost-effective and attractive. “This is a day of renewed hope for these families, and for the others on the waiting list,” said Minister O’Connor-Connolly, who is the Minister for District Administration, Works and Gender Affairs. “We have made incremental steps towards this goal, which has now become reality,” she added.
Blessings and a prayer of hope for the project were offered by visiting evangelist Pastor Gracie McFarlane. Following, Brac residents were encouraged to continue to “pay-forward their blessings” by assisting neighbours and others however they can. “There are still others who cannot qualify for a mortgage and who don’t have hope, but we are also their trustees,” added Ms O’Connor-Connolly.
This affordable housing initiative has now resulted in eight new homes being completed in the purpose-build neighbourhoods. Attending the ceremony were relatives, friends and neighbours of the new homeowners. Also present were government officials, including Permanent Secretary Kearney Gomez; Deputy PS Tristan Hydes; District Commissioner Ernie Scott; and Deputy District Commissioner Mark Tibbetts. Representing the SIAHDC were Chairman Darrel Rankine, Secretary/General Manager Todd Eldridge and other board members.
“This is one of the best-planned and best-built and most successful housing schemes in these Islands,” Mr. Gomez told the audience. Noting that there are still more homes to be built, he added, “God has been good to us. We have to be thankful for the resilience of the people of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman... with all hands on deck, this has proven to be a very successful experience.”
Representatives of other key agencies involved, including DSS Contractors, Cayman National Bank and the Public Works Department also witnessed the event. SIAHDC brings together government, citizens, developers and commercial banks. A government-funded non-profit company, it was launched in January 2006 with the goal of providing affordable housing for residents of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Government granted two sites of Crown land for the homestead developments. The land was transferred to the householders’ names, thereby allowing them to qualify for commercial loans. Funds from the sale of these homes will assist with future developments. The home-loan recipients were selected anonymously, based on set criteria for qualification.
