By Lindsey Turnbull
Speaking at Saturday’s Alex Panton Foundation Symposium on Youth Mental Health, Health and Wellness Minister Sabrina Turner gave an update on the government’s new mental health facility, through which a delegation from the Ministry was recently given a tour. Attendees at the conference saw a video of this tour and were able to see the buildings and how far they had come with their construction, including the main facility and nine residential cottages.
“Completion is definitely near,” Minister Turner said. “From where we were coming from since I took up office and where we are today, I feel much more comforted that they are nearing completion.”
The Health Minister continued: “Some of the key works remaining for the completion of the facility include the permanent power connection, and the IT data infrastructure and works. The facilities project management team advised that once power connection occurs completion of the building works is expected within approximately six to eight weeks thereafter.”
She said she trusted them with this time line as they were the experts. While the physical aspects of the facility were being finalised, the approval process for the facility’s senior management team was underway, she advised.
“It is imperative that this team is in place as they will be tasked with creating and implementing the facility’s operational plans, as well as determining the facility’s therapeutic programming,” Minister Turner explained.
She also mentioned that the recruitment process for the facility’s director was underway.
Cabinet had also approved five appointments to the Mental Health Commission earlier this month for a three-year term until the end of December 2025. Ms Fiona McDougall would be the Commission’s chair, an individual who had been with the commission since 2017.
Ms Turner also outlined a new project that would be opened on the old Mariner’s Cove site in Spotts. The government had recently purchased that parcel of land for the establishment of a new wellness community park, she outlined, a park that would be built for all of Cayman to use.
“This is an important tangible step towards enhancing the wellness of our people of all ages. It can only lead positively to mental wellbeing for everyone,” she said.
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