The official opening of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps’ forever home took place at its new headquarters on Middle Road, George Town on Thursday, 6 April 2017.

Sited near the CTMH Doctors Hospital, the facility was funded by the Ministry for Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, following extensive renovation work that was project managed by the Public Works Department.

The building contains meeting rooms, ample storage for Corps equipment and a kitchen. It will serve as base for volunteers and be used by adult training and volunteer organisations.

Before moving into its first permanent HQ since the passing of Hurricane Ivan 12 years ago, the Corps’ had been using Bodden Town Civic Centre since 2013.

The dedication ceremony included speeches, prayers, a ribbon cutting and a tour of the facility by the Minister of Youth, Ministerial Councillor for Health and Culture, Roy McTaggart, ministry staff, parents and cadets.

In remarks the Minister for Community Affairs, Youth and Sport, Hon. Osbourne Bodden welcomed the Cadet Corps to its new location, mentioning that the headquarters was the largest of the projects that the Corps had recently identified and achieved.

In opening the new offices, Minister Bodden said that it was his view that the Cadet Corps was one of the strongest youth organisations in creating positive, community-minded citizens and he was pleased that he was able to support them in obtaining a permanent home.

He was happy to learn that the volunteers had been motivated by having a permanent home for the Corps since they were the backbone of the organisation.

He added that he looked forward to the time when the Cadet Corps could have its own parade grounds to further strengthen the programme and its effectiveness.

Commandant, Lt. Col. Bobeth O’Garro added that since moving to their new premises, they had had more visits from officers, parents and cadets than they had in the past four years while in Bodden Town.

In thanking the Ministry, she said: “The CICC is grateful for the support of the current Minister and his team who has worked with us since being assigned to his Ministry, and helped us to secure this building as a CICC asset.”

The facility will also be used for conducting leadership training, as well as online learning for classes such as First Aid and diving she concluded.

Among the next strategic goals that the Corps is looking to achieve are a training facility with a parade square, training rooms, dorms and a new bus.