Q: What are the objectives of the association?
The objectives of the CCA are:

• To ensure the existence of a high degree of ethical standards in the Cayman construction industry
• To assist the growth of the construction industry
• To encourage membership by all contractors, specialty contractors and related business entities
• To represent all CCA members equally
• To represent the needs of contractors with Government and statutory authorities

Q: What are the issues facing your membership/industry and how is the association dealing with them?
The first and foremost issue is the economy. The US and European markets are struggling to recover; meanwhile, the cost of doing business in Cayman is rising dramatically caused by Government raising fees in a recession.

The age-old challenge of trying to find the balance between the local and expat labour force with Immigration and DER still remains. Immigration is scrambling to scrutinize work permits more carefully because of past policies; this is driving business costs up with extra compliance and appeals processes. Good expat employees are looking elsewhere for job certainty.

Always an issue is legitimate contractors competing against unscrupulous contractors, but more recently unscrupulous labour brokers have entered the market.

On the Planning Department front, Cayman is still operating under the outdated 1999 building codes. It is causing problems between contractors and inspectors because there is no clarity on which codes are important to follow. Furthermore, there are now numerous unnecessary government department inspections needed to get a Certificate of Occupancy. This is causing project close out delays for owners and contractors.

Finally, it has been said for many years that Cayman needs a proper technical school to train our local Caymanians in the trades. This remains true today.

The road ahead is tough and uncertain but with good leadership, perseverance and a stroke of luck our members and the industry will pull through and be stronger by working together.

Q: What are the main drives that the association will be doing in the next year to involve and support your membership/industry?
The association has been actively working behind the scenes to develop real benefits for CCA members and all members of the general public and will continue to do so in the next year.

A central part of that effort has been developing CCA’s website, www.CCA.ky . It is designed to be the central source for contractors and consumers to share construction information in the Cayman Islands. There is something for everyone on the CCA website.

CCA Members:
CCA members are provided with a free listing on the website to compliment the marketing of their business; this also tells the public that your company abides by a standard code of ethics.

Members have access to the Members Only side of the website, which offers a labour pool, equipment pool, member’s forum, CCA/CASE Form of Contracts and other helpful information to strengthen member businesses.

CCA hosts guests at the monthly luncheons to discuss upcoming projects, law changes and education opportunities in Cayman.

We have been reaching out to key leaders and legislators in the community to provide input into shaping public policies and laws that are critical to the future of Cayman’s construction industry.

CCA will continue to promote the Builders Law to protect the general public. The main purpose of the Builders Law is to issue licenses only to qualified and/or experienced construction persons who are held responsible for their businesses.

The CCA is hoping to work with the Planning Department to migrate from the 1999 building codes to the 2009 International Code Council building codes.

CCA will continue to support the construction programs of John Gray High School and UCCI. CCA is also working with the Cayman Institute of Technology, which is focused on becoming a full technical school in Cayman. CCA will continue to support the Passport to Success Program and is seeking to work with Government on a Construction Skills Training Initiative that is being developed by CCA.

CCA and CASE are developing a suite of contracts for use by all project participants in the Cayman Islands jurisdiction.

CCA encourages all construction related businesses to get involved. It is as simple as getting an application form from the website, completing it and returning it to us.

For more information
Cayman Contractors Association:
Rayal Bodden
Chairman  of the Builders Law Committee
Cayman Contractors Association
E: rrbodden@candw.ky
W: www.cca.ky