Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – Construction of Health City Cayman Islands is already creating significant employment for Caymanians in the construction field – and beyond.

In tracking the number of workers at the construction site from week to week, officials note the jobs are overwhelmingly being held by Caymanians – an average of 85 per cent.

Preliminary work on the site began late last year. The official start of construction of the first phase of the project, a 140-bed tertiary care hospital, began February 11 of this year.

“We are pleased to be able to provide employment for the Caymanian community,” said Mr. Gene Thompson, the local partner in the project. “Going forward we expect the project to have a peak of 300 construction workers at the site, of which we expect more than 50 per cent to be Caymanian.”

The number of workers on site varies from week to week, as does the percentage of Caymanians. For example, for the week ending March 15, of the total of 66 workers on site, 51 were Caymanian and 15 were work permit holders. That means 77 per cent were Caymanian workers. In the previous week, that percentage was 91 per cent.

Mr. Thompson added that employment opportunities would continue to grow for Caymanians as the project develops.

“Not only does the development mean significant employment in the construction field, but it will eventually create hundreds of jobs in the healthcare field and related support services,” said Mr. Thompson. “It will bring meaningful employment to Caymanians in a range of trades and careers.”

Health City Cayman Islands is being built in phases over the next 15 years and will require a capital investment of around US$2 billion. Once complete, it is expected to create more than 9,000 jobs.

The medical tourism complex is being built in the High Rock area of East End. It will bring high-quality, affordable healthcare services to the Cayman Islands, based on the pioneering model developed by renowned heart surgeon Dr. Devi Shetty.

Health City Cayman Islands is a joint venture between Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals of India, a private venture developed by Dr. Shetty, and Ascension Health Alliance, the largest Catholic non-profit healthcare organization in the United States.