CAYMAN ISLANDS
GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
Tel: (345) 916-0738
NATIONAL HURRICANE COMMITTEE
AFTERMATH OF
HURRICANE IVAN
Contact
Patricia Ebanks, 345-916-0738
Cayman Islands
Recovery Committee
Relaxed curfew hours, a
cruise ship as a temporary home for private sector staff, assistance for home
repair, and progress with water and electricity restoration were all signs of
the continuing healthy recovery of post-Ivan Grand Cayman being driven by the
Cayman Islands Recovery Committee.
The committee, chaired by HE
the Governor, Mr. Bruce Dinwiddy, met again at 10 am this morning (Thursday)
and will reconvene on Saturday to continue its work.
Security
Curfew
is still in effect but has been further relaxed, with later 10 pm start, but
holding to the 5 am cut-off.
It
was announced that the ground floor of the George Town Police Station will
re-open in about a week and the entire building will be ready for full
occupancy in approximately three weeks. Water was scheduled to be restored to
the building today (Thursday).
At
present there are 298 officers on duty; some officers are being redeployed to
their posts in Cayman Brac. An additional 11-man public order response team
will be working the night shift until next Thursday to monitor security issues.
A coordinator has been assigned for the Neighbourhood Watch programme that has
grown considerably.
British
Virgin Island and Turks and Caicos’ police officers will depart on Saturday, 2
October, and, the Bermuda contingent, on Friday 1 October.
Some
40 of 144 officers (28%) require assistance with accommodation. Due to the stress caused by the devastation
of the hurricane, counselling services will be offered to officers and civilian
staff.
NHC
Update
The Water Authority has
restored running water all the way to Northward; valves to lines to feeder
roads in the area will be opened following successful testing.
Civil
servants will be given priority assistance/supplies to facilitate their full
return to work.
CUC Update
Power lines to the Marriott
Hotel are complete and the effort to bring George Town financial centre on line
is mostly complete. Two circuits are feeding George Town and lower end of Seven
Mile Beach, and CUC is working to restore more circuits. Power supply peaked
yesterday (Wednesday) based on current circuit capacity; Two MWs are being
added per day to allow more capacity for additional customers.
Eighty-seven linesmen, drawn
from CUC; the St. Johns, Newfoundland, Fortis
Company; and the Belize Electricity
utility. Crews from Barbados Lighting
power are on standby to assist the recovery effort. Focus is on re-establishing
submarine cables and power on Seven Mile Beach, Rum Point and North Side,
Queen’s Way and Frank Sound, with an estimated time of completion of at least
three weeks. Distribution lines are now in place so power can be quickly
restored to West Bay north of the Fire Station.
New transformers will be
shipped on Saturday and conductors are arriving this week to replace damaged
equipment.
Private sector update
A 250-cabin cruise ship has
been identified to temporarily house private sector and will be leased for
two-four month period.
Assistance for
repair of homes
Financial
Secretary, the Hon. George McCarthy, will allocate CI$10,000-15,000 per person for
home repair assistance with funds either from the CI National Recovery Fund
and/or Cayman Islands Government. The NHC
is conducting an assessment of individual needs and will provide a
written report to the committee. Radio
Cayman will be providing instructions to the public on procedures for
assistance. Members of the public are asked to continue monitoring that media.
--GIS--