NiCE January Project Ends, Winter 2020/Spring 2021 Numbers Out
Seven hundred and forty-two persons registered to work with the government’s National Enhancement (NiCE) Project, held 7 to 18 December 2020 and again 11 to 22 January 2021.
Led for the third consecutive year by the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure (CPI), the twice-yearly beautification programme attracted unemployed and underemployed Caymanians and spouses of Caymanians for up to two weeks of paid work.
“We decided to undertake NiCE registration last November in the districts to keep within national COVID-19 regulations, which limit gatherings of more than 500 people,” said the initiative’s Project Manager, Mrs. Lois Kellyman.
Consequently, smaller work groups than usual were deployed to work with supervisors from WORC, the Department of Environment, Public Works Department, National Roads Authority. Groups were also assigned to the Mosquito Research & Control Unit and the Agricultural Grounds.
As well as clearing scrub, roadside remediation work and clearing beach accesses, NiCE teams tackled general maintenance work at the Agricultural Grounds and refurbishment of the truck scale at the George Town Landfill.
“Over the years, we have developed the project into a multi-agency programme, including WORC and others, that play a pivotal role in the employment and training of our people,” CPI Minister, Hon. Joey Hew stated.
“I think we are at a place where we can extend the programme. We can look to start partnering with other agencies and perhaps extend the project over a longer period of time and use as a training programme, a second chance programme, a bit of a rehabilitation or on the work training programme for some of the folks who are fully able and capable of working but for whatever reason unable to find full-time employment at this time.”
“We were pleased to offer gainful temporary employment in the run up to Christmas and in the new year to retirees who still felt able to put in a few weeks as well as the under employed and those who are unable to work for varying reasons,” the Minister concluded.
NiCE Programme Winter 2020/Spring 2021 Analysis
| District | Male | Female | Total Applicant | Age 18-35 | Age 36-60 | Age 60+ | Caymanian | Married to Caymanian | Returning Applicants | First time Applicants |
| George Town | 136 | 113 | 249 | 94 | 113 | 42 | 216 | 33 | 158 | 91 |
| West Bay | 143 | 128 | 271 | 85 | 142 | 44 | 258 | 13 | 172 | 99 |
| Bodden Town | 71 | 53 | 124 | 60 | 50 | 14 | 116 | 8 | 65 | 59 |
| North Side | 24 | 24 | 48 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 48 | 0 | 35 | 13 |
| East End | 26 | 24 | 50 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 46 | 4 | 29 | 21 |
| Total | 400 | 342 | 742 | 293 | 339 | 110 | 684 | 58 | 459 | 283 |