Diane Montoya NAT Chairperson

His Excellency the Governor Stuart Jack and Financial Secretary Hon Kenneth Jefferson received copies of the National Assessment of Living Conditions (NALC) draft report on Tuesday, 13 May.

National Assessment Team (NAT) members, led by NAT Chairperson Diane Montoya and Caribbean Development Bank representatives, including McDonald Thomas and consultants from Kairi Consultants Ltd, were on hand for the presentation of the report to Mr Jack and Mr Jefferson.

Speaking at the beginning of the assessment in July 2006, NAT member Samuel Rose said the report would be crucial to the Island’s development strategy.

“The poverty study is one part of a comprehensive strategy for creating a social development policy for the Cayman Islands,” he said.

“Data gathered during the study will provide us with a clearer sense of how best to allocate resources to address critical social, cultural and economic issues associated with poverty within our islands,” he added.

He explained that the survey would not be exclusive to the indigenous population.

“We will not only be looking at the living conditions of Caymanians, but the full cross section of our society, including permanent residents, and those on work permits. We will need the cooperation of our people in order for us to successfully conduct the NALC.”