St. Louis, Missouri, USA: The Cayman Islands’ delegation to the prestigious and globally recognised International Code Council (ICC) Conference and Expo, 2023, led by Honourable Johany ‘Jay’ Ebanks, Minister of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, found the participation in the conference immensely rewarding. The ICC Conference and Expo, held between October 8-11, 2023, brought together leading minds in the field of building codes, standards and regulatory practices.

“During the conference, our delegation engaged in active discussions, shared our experiences with building codes, networked with international counterparts, and gained valuable knowledge on the latest trends and best practices in the building industry. We reiterated our country’s commitment to maintaining high standards for safety, sustainability, and innovation in construction and development. We also showed how The Cayman Islands efforts to align its building codes and regulation with international standards is enabling us to have a robust and resilient built environment” said Honourable Johany Jay Ebanks, MP

The following were other strategic outcomes that emerged from the Cayman Islands’ participation in the ICC Conference and Expo, 2023:

1. Private Meeting with Executives of the ICC: The Cayman Islands’ delegation had the opportunity to meet privately with the executives of the ICC, where both parties committed to future sustained communication that will result in the continued development of the building sector in the Cayman Islands.

2. Insights and Best Practices: The Cayman Islands’ delegation gained valuable insights into the latest advancements, technologies, and best practices in the field of building codes and standards, which will undoubtedly inform future regulatory decisions and improvements in the Cayman Islands.

3. Recognition and Visibility: The Cayman Islands is acknowledged on a global platform for its dedication to maintaining high-quality building standards, bolstering the country’s reputation as a safe and attractive destination for development and investment. MEDIA RELEASE

4. Capacity Building: The knowledge and experience gained, has opened doors to several opportunities which will strengthen the capacity of professionals in the building industry to implement building codes that prioritize safety, sustainability and resilience.

“Our local building professionals can be assured that the Ministry of Planning will continue to actively make the necessary representations at events such as the ICC’s Conference and Expo,2023 to connect them with the requisite resources to help them to be the best in our local building industry and be on par with the rest of the world” stated Mr. Tristan Hydes, Deputy Chief Officer at the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure.

Accompanying the Honourable Johany ‘Jay’ Ebanks, MP to the conference from the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure were: Mr. Tristan Hydes, Deputy Chief Officer and Dr. Tamika Peart, Senior Policy Advisor – Communications; and Department of Planning Director, Mr. Haroon Pandohie and Building Control Deputy- Director, Ms. Kerry-Ann Picard.

For more information on the work of the ICC, please visit the following page: ICC – International Code Council – ICC (iccsafe.org)