CAYMAN BRAC HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT WILL PROCEED

CAYMAN BRAC HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT WILL PROCEED

By Staff Writer

Faced with calls from some circles to scrap or significantly scale back the project, the ruling National Coalition For Caymanians (NCFC) coalition has decided to proceed with the construction of the Cayman Brac High School.

Hon. Minister for Finance and Education, Rolston Anglin, said he invoked both portfolio responsibilities in arriving at the decision from both a financial and an education perspective. He explained that he inherited a project where a substantial amount had already been spent, making it fiscally irresponsible to cancel.

According to Mr Anglin, “With project costs approaching $59 million and a history of escalating costs across all government projects, I deemed it my duty to review how best to ensure this project could be delivered in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Started under the previous leadership of ex-Premier, education minister and Cayman Brac East MP, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, several questions have been raised about the cost of the project which became embroiled in controversy during the 2025 election campaign.

The project which had become “politically charged”, according to Mr Anglin, will proceed but with cost cutbacks of KYD$6 million.

He emphasised that redesigning at this stage would be expensive, increasing costs further.

“This is not about cutting corners," Min. Anglin stated. “It is about balancing ambition with accountability—delivering a modern and sustainable school while exercising the fiscal prudence that our people rightly expect. Our government remains firmly committed to strengthening education across the Cayman Islands. By making careful choices today, we are safeguarding public resources, investing in safe schools, and building resilient communities,” he explained during a press conference called to announce the future of the project.

A government statement outlined that the plan for the future Layman E. Scott Senior High School has been modified to reduce costs while still providing students with quality educational facilities. It said the new school will have the capacity to accommodate at least 200 students and 50 faculty members, allowing for future expansion to meet the community’s growing needs.

Key changes include the discontinuation of the gymnasium and the associated connecting hallways to the main school building. Instead, indoor physical education classes and large school examinations will take place in the existing multipurpose hall at the Cayman Brac Sports Complex or other suitable spaces. These adjustments are projected to save approximately KYD$6 million, streamlining the project while maintaining the functionality of core facilities.

The contract for the new campus was awarded to McAlpine Ltd. and Arch & Godfrey Ltd., operating as a Joint Venture Partnership (JVP). During the briefing, Garth Arch, Managing Director of Arch & Godfrey Ltd, reported significant progress, noting that materials have been procured and construction on the second floor is underway. He stressed the partnership’s dedication to clear continuity and project delivery. "The Joint Venture of McAlpine and Arch & Godfrey is fully committed to completing the works in line with the scope, timeline, and quality standards. We are very pleased with the progress of the project,” he stated.

The target completion date is around April/May 2026.

Mr Anglin also confirmed that there are no plans to change the name of the school and that its dedication, in honour of its first principal, the late Layman E. Scott Sr., will be retained.

The Layman E. Scott Sr. High School (formerly known as Cayman Brac Secondary Modern School and Cayman Brac High School) is the only secondary school on Cayman Brac. It was opened in 1967 as Cayman Brac Secondary Modern School with 73 students and 4 staff under the leadership of then-principal Layman E. Scott Sr. The school was renamed in his honour in 2011. Mr Scott passed away in 2010.