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Cayman Islands: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Volume 493: debated on Wednesday 3 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the cost of reconstruction required in the Cayman Islands following Hurricane Paloma. (276809)

The Department for International Development (DFID) continues to monitor the situation through the Governor's Office and the Cayman Islands hazard management agency.

In April the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean submitted their detailed study of economic damage and losses to the Cayman Islands Government. This indicates that the cost of reconstruction, based on replacement costs for direct damage caused by Hurricane Paloma, to be US$124.5 million, or 7.4 per cent. of gross domestic product. DFID provided support for this study.

On 15 May, the Governor visited Cayman Brae, finding that all critical facilities are functioning, including Government buildings, schools and hospitals. Housing repair is well under way and is a priority.