Cadets move into permanent home
(L-R) Minister of Youth Osbourne Bodden and Chief Officer Dorine Whittaker with Cadet Corps officers at the opening of the headquarters
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC) moved into its permanent headquarters on Middle Road, George Town, earlier this month. Sited near the CTMH Doctors Hospital, the facility was funded by the Ministry for Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, following extensive renovation 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.
Since 2013, the corps has been using the Bodden Town Civic Centre; the new building marks the first permanent headquarters since the passing of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
The dedication ceremony included speeches, prayers, a ribbon cutting and a tour of the facility by Minister of Youth Osbourne Bodden, Ministerial Councillor for Health and Culture Roy McTaggart, ministry staff, parents and cadets.
In opening the new offices, Bodden said he considered the Cadet Corps one of the strongest youth organisations in creating positive, community-minded citizens and he was pleased to support them in obtaining a permanent home.
He added that he looked forward to when the Cadet Corps could have its own parade grounds to strengthen further the programme and its effectiveness.
Commandant, Lt Col Bobeth O’Garro said 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.”
She added the facility will also be used for conducting leadership training, as well as online learning for classes such as first aid and diving.
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.
Category: Youth
