By Alric Lindsay
In a sitting of Parliament on July 24, 2024, the Honorable Minister of Health and Wellness and Home Affairs, Mrs Sabrina Turner, confirmed that although the Department of Planning issued special permission for occupancy (“SPO”) for the Poinciana mental health facility, she could not provide a timeline for its grand opening. She added that the time frame remains beyond her control and the remit of her ministerial team.
Explaining the special permission occupancy, the Health Minister said:
… the issuance of an SPO special permission occupancy from the Department of Planning means that the structure satisfies all life safety requirements such as mechanical, electrical and fire being granted.
An SPO allows approved personnel, such as staff, safe use of the building while the inspection process continues and until the final certificate of occupancy is issued.
Receiving the SPO is a project milestone, and it brings us one step closer to opening our doors.
She added:
At the location, the director of Ponciana will be finalizing the internal procedures and activities needed to accommodate the facility’s residents.
Once these procedures are in place and the necessary building approvals have been granted for the residential sections of the facility, phase two will focus on repatriation and admission of residents.
Pressed by MP Barbara Connolly to provide more information on the facility, in particular, the number of Caymanian employees that would be employed, the Health Minister explained:
I have been reliably informed that two Caymanians are on staff.
Currently, all others are non-Caymanian.
Within the next two months, this will change to reflect 50% Caymanians.
The trainee psychiatric nursing program will add a further 18 Caymanians to the staff at Ponciana.
And the recruitment for this is being finalized with the commencement of the training program expected to be by September of this year.
Regarding the return to Cayman of Caymanians currently obtaining mental health treatment overseas via the Government, the Health Minister said:
… in the first instance, arrangements will be made for the return of those who currently reside in Jamaica group homes, as Ponciana’s director has visited those residents on more than one occasion as assessments of their needs and their immigration status have been completed.
By immigration status, Mister Speaker, I mean that some residents require travel documents and as such, further discussions will be held with the passport and corporate services to assist in preparing relevant paperwork.
When an admission date is in fact confirmed, the director of Ponciana and her team will make the appropriate arrangements, including those related to travel.
It is expected, Mister speaker, that residents will be accompanied by Ponciana’s staff throughout their return journey to ensure a safe transition and a positive experience as they return home.
Caymanians overseas receiving mental health treatment and Caymanians and other residents currently in need of care now anxiously await more details about Poinciana’s opening date.
