CI$900,000 From a School’s Budget: Cayman Cabinet Funds a West Bay Church and Hurricane Shelter

• Cayman’s Cabinet approved a CI$900,000 grant to Chapel Church of God in West Bay
• The money came from the 2025 allocation for West Bay High School
• The church had received CI$450,000 in February 2024 towards a new church and hurricane shelter
• The decision came days before the pre-election ‘period of sensitivity’

The Cayman Islands Cabinet approved CI$1.65 million in public money for a church and a Christian non-profit at its last meeting before the 2025 election period, Cayman News Service reported on 26 March 2025.

The larger sum, CI$900,000, went to Chapel Church of God in West Bay. Cabinet created a new executive appropriation, TP 127, described as “Assistance for Community Enrichment and Wellbeing” under the premier’s Ministry of Education, to make the grant. The money was taken from the 2025 allocation for West Bay High School. The church had already received CI$450,000 in February 2024 “to help build the new church and hurricane shelter”.

Cabinet also gave CI$750,000 from the same appropriation to the Manna Foundation in Savannah. The news service said no details had been released about what that money was for.

The grants were approved at a Cabinet meeting on 25 February 2025, days before the “period of sensitivity” ahead of the general election, during which the government had been advised not to make new policy decisions. The same meeting approved spending on the Cayman Brac Sports Complex, Scranton Park and district parks.

Jamaica has its own long-running debate about public money and church buildings, from property tax exemptions to state help with repairs. The Cayman case shows why that debate matters: when a church building doubles as a hurricane shelter, there is a public case for support, but the source of funds, the timing and the terms all attract scrutiny. Jamaican churches seeking government help to build or harden shelters should expect questions about ownership, public access during emergencies and accountability for every dollar.

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