The
Ministry of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing is pleased to
announce that the initial contracts for the award of the construction
of the new Long-Term Residential Mental Health Facility (LTRMHF) in
East End, Grand Cayman have been signed.

In
attendance at this momentous occasion was the Premier Hon. Alden
McLaughlin, who previously served as Minister of Health, along with
the Hon. Dwayne Seymour, Minister of Health.

The
long-term residential mental health facility will be a 54-bed
facility that will serve the residents of the Cayman Islands who have
serious and persistent mental illness, enabling them to be cared for
holistically in a safe and secure environment.

This
development helps to further fulfill three of the Government’s
strategic broad outcomes to ensure access to quality, affordable
healthcare; to build stronger communities; and to support the most
vulnerable in society. 

It
is envisaged that the new facility will open in the second quarter of
2021. 

At
the signing of the contracts, Minister Seymour said: “The
Long-term Residential Mental Health Facility will be a state of the
art facility of its type in the region. While the establishment will
aim to reintegrate patients back into society, it will also offer a
secure and productive place to live for those who need life-long
care.  I look forward to breaking ground on this historic
initiative next week. We are moving into a new era of mental health
care in the Cayman Islands.”

Hon.
Alden McLaughlin noted: “One of the driving forces behind the
establishment of this new centre is to bring patients home who are
overseas in institutions. It will allow them to be closer to their
families and friends as they undergo treatment which has proven to be
beneficial to help them return as wholesome members of the
community.”

The
Ministry’s Acting Chief Officer Nancy Barnard voiced her
appreciation for the team of civil servants who helped to start the
tangible delivery of one of government’s major projects:

“The
Ministry of Health team has worked diligently over the past few
years, along with our fellow agencies in particular the Public Works
Department. Special thanks also go to the project’s Steering
Committee and to the Mental Health Commission, led by Dr Marc
Lockhart, as well as to mental healthcare professionals and community
advocates for getting the project to this stage,” she said.

(GIS)

Group
Photo:

Names
L-R: front row: Brent McComb, Phoenix; Ron Wilson, Ron Wilson’s
Equipment; Wally Smith, AAA Construction; Premier Hon. Alden
McLaughlin; Minister of Health Hon. Dwayne Seymour; Acting Chief
Officer for Health, Nancy Barnard

L-R
Second row: Jason Brown, Ron Wilson’s Equipment; Barbara Anley,
Phoenix; Patricia Thomas, AAA Construction; Acting-Deputy Chief
Officer, Ministry of Health, Troy Jacob; Senior Project Manager and
Deputy Director PWD, Niasha Brady; Senior Policy Officer for Health,
Ministry of Health, Janett Flynn; Chief Project Manager, PWD Major
Projects Office, Peter Ranger.