Cayman Brac to get EmploymentBoost
In this photooverlooking the George Town Port: (left to right) Mr. Eugene F.Kelley, president of Misener, Mr. Clement Reid, Engineer and DeputyPort Director, Mr. Paul Hurlston, Port Director and Mr. John L.Bolles, vice president of Misener.
About sixteen local people will help a Florida-basedconstruction company during its undertaking of a $3.2 millionproject aimed at repairing the dock on Cayman Brac which was damagedby Hurricane Michelle.
Government signed with the company, MisenerMarine Construction Inc., located in Tampa, on Monday. The projectis slated to begin in July and will be completed in October orNovember, construction company representatives said.
Eugene F. Kelley, vice president of thecompany, said the direct local expenditures for the project willbe for concrete and labour, but that indirect expenditures willconsist of providing room and board on Cayman Brac for the company'sown workers.
He also said he is looking forward to onceagain working alongside Caymanians, as they have back in 1979.
The company has already inquired with localcontractors about manpower and equipment assistance. "Wehave spoken with (local contractors). There will be a quantityof materials we will need. And we will be working with their employeesand using their facilities to utilize the concrete that is necessaryfor the aggressive environment," Mr. Kelly said.
The Florida-based contractor built the originalstructure at Cayman Brac in the early 1980s and is no strangerto the island and its environment. The president of the company,Mr. John L. Bolles, said the company was somewhat flattered thattheir workers were asked to return to Cayman with tools in hand."We've always enjoyed working with Caymanians," Mr.Bolles said. "And, to be able to help the islands and makeimprovements over at Bracwe're looking forward to that."
Mr. Kelley added, "It also says a lotfor us as a company that the port authority invited us back todo the improvements." Port Authority officials said thatto the credit of the original design, the substructure is stillintact.
However, the superstructure has been damagedand weathered over the past 20 years and needs to be replaced.
Port officials acknowledged that the portat Cayman Brac is not used much, but insisted the constructionis necessary. "The amount of cargo is little, but it is beingused, so we have to take care of it," said Port AuthorityDirector Paul Hurlston.
Mr. Kelley said the port will not changein layout, but will consist of better quality when the work iscompleted.
Officials said that even before HurricaneMichelle the port at Brac had already sustained "wear andtear."
The Government does not have to providefunding for the project as such money was obtained in insurancesettlements following Hurricane Michelle, confirmed the Chairmanof the Port Authority, the Hon. Mc Keeva Bush, Leader of GovernmentBusiness and Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Transport.