Having to move because of the airport expansion, the Cayman Islands Sport Shooting Association, popularly known as the Gun Club, had no place to go. Now it has.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Tourism and Development, the Hon. W. McKeeva Bush and Deputy Premier and Minister of District Administration, Works, Land and Agriculture, the Hon. Julianna O’Connor Connolly handed over the lease for 83 acres of Crown property in East End, opposite the old quarry, to association president Mr. Eddie McLean and treasurer Mr. Kevin Schirn.

Also present on the occasion were Minister of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mark Scotland, JP; Minister of Education, Training and Employment, the Hon. Rolston Anglin, JP; Minister of Community Affairs, Gender and Housing, the Hon. Michael Adam, MBE, JP; and Tourism Councillor and MLA, Mr. Cline Glidden Jr.

Expressing Government’s delight at being able to assist, the Premier noted that the association had been trying unsuccessfully for over a decade to secure a suitable property from successive governments.

It could now not only move but also expand into a state of the art facility and put the Cayman Islands on the world map of yet another sport, thereby enhancing the Islands’ tourism product. “We recognise the potential for sports tourism here, especially with the plans they have to create a world-class facility,” Mr. Bush said.

The Deputy Premier, whose ministry facilitated the lease, added, “I am glad we could help this dedicated club’s long-standing need for new and expanded space. I look forward to the membership putting the land to good use for the benefit of themselves, the community and the Cayman Islands as a whole.”

The new home will offer skeet, trap, pistol and rifle sport shooting, the association president said. To be built with association funds, the facility will amply serve the needs of its 170 members. More importantly, it would be able to host international events.

“Our members have attended Commonwealth, Pan American, Caribbean and Island Games to compete and we are also a part of the International Sport Shooting Federation. Now we can fulfil our longstanding dream of hosting world-class sport shooters right here in the Cayman Islands,” Mr. McLean said.

First off, members look forward to perhaps reviving and expanding a February Valentine’s sport shooting event that the club used to offer, which invariably brought some 50 international shooting enthusiasts to visit Cayman, he revealed.

“We are elated, excited and truly grateful to Government for success at last in securing a property for our new home,” he added.

(GIS)