News

Cayman Brac’s ongoing development efforts reached an important new milestone in March 2025, with the official handover and opening of the Cayman Brac Accommodation Block, a project that significantly enhances the island’s ability to support large-scale public infrastructure and educational investment.

Led by Premier and Minister for District Administration and Lands, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, the project is part of a long-standing and coordinated effort to strengthen services and opportunities across the Sister Islands. The accommodation block, with its capacity to house construction teams and service providers, now removes a key logistical barrier that has historically slowed the pace of development across the Sister Islands.

The 38-suite facility will play a central role in facilitating the construction of the new Cayman Brac high school and gymnasium, which will also serve as a national hurricane shelter with the capacity to house persons from all three Cayman Islands. The block will also be used by visiting school and sports teams, opening the door to both inter-island and international events that support the Cayman Islands’ growing profile in sports and events tourism.

“We are not just opening a building, we are removing a long-standing barrier to development,” said Premier O’Connor-Connolly. “By providing appropriate accommodations for skilled workers and visiting teams, we are saying that Cayman Brac is ready not just for growth, but for smart, managed progress that enhances the lives of our people.”

A former educator, the Premier underscored the importance of education in shaping the Sister Islands’ future, quoting Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Minister for Youth, Sports, Heritage and Home Affairs, Hon. Isaac Rankine, also addressed attendees, sharing a quote most recently attributed to Harvard President Derek Bok: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” He noted that projects like this one are helping to create the conditions where young people can thrive and communities can grow stronger.

Acting Chief Officer for the Ministry of District Administration and Lands, Mr. Wilbur Welcome, described the project as a practical response to long-standing logistical challenges. “This facility helps remove the bottlenecks that have slowed down major infrastructure projects in the past. It supports progress not just by what it provides, but by what it enables, including, faster timelines, more access to talent, and stronger outcomes for the people of Cayman Brac.”

Constructed to high hurricane-resilient standards, the accommodation block comprises two single-storey buildings, totalling 10,685 square feet, located next door to the Cayman Brac Sports Complex and Multi-purpose Hall on an 18.1-acre site.

The handover event was attended by senior leaders from across Government, including the Minister for Youth, Sports, Heritage and Home Affairs; Chief Officers and Deputy Chief Officers from the Ministries of Education, District Administration and Lands, and Home Affairs; District Commissioner Mark Tibbetts and Deputy District Commissioner Chelsea Whittaker, who additional served at the events Emcee; and key project partners, including Arch and Godfrey, McAlpine, JEC, CGA, and consulting partner KPMG.

The accommodation block adds to a series of facilities opened in Cayman Brac over the Premier’s tenure. It follows the 2025 launches of the Spot Bay Community Centre and the Watering Place Calisthenics Park. In 2024, the Premier also opened several other community centres, the island’s only technology learning and development centre, and other facilities in the Brac, including the Joy M. Tibbets Adult Training Centre, which offers occupational therapy, workplace preparedness services, and other support for persons with disabilities.

District Commissioner Mark Tibbetts shared his appreciation for the Premier’s leadership, stating: “The Premier has delivered real, lasting improvements for Cayman Brac. These projects make a difference, and we are grateful for her commitment to our community.”

The Ministry for District Administration and Lands extends its sincere thanks to all who contributed to the successful delivery of these projects. Together, these developments reflect a long-term commitment to building stronger communities, supporting education, and creating opportunities for the people of Cayman Brac and the wider Sister Islands, with lasting benefits for the entire country.

The Premier is set to open the Longbeach Public Park in Cayman Brac and the Pease Bay Public Beach in Grand Cayman at the end of April.