Grand Cayman, 12 November 2020: Resilience Cayman is pleased to announce a new utility relief programme in partnership with Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) and supported by a CI$50,000 grant from R3 Cayman Foundation.

The programme, which launched on November 12, 2020 and runs to November 30, 2020, will provide a one-time grant to help families and individuals who have lost their primary source of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resilience spokesperson Biserka Pena says the programme is responding to a growing need in the community.

"We have been supporting residents and families since the start of COVID19 with food assistance.  Now, eight months into the crisis, we are seeing a shift in the nature of the financial hardship many are facing.  We are introducing this relief program to address the challenges that families are having in paying their CUC bills even as many are facing the prospect of service disconnection,” she says, noting that some families are months in arrears due to unemployment. “Thanks to R3's donation, we will be able to provide assistance to hundreds of families.  In addition to financial relief, we will also provide recipient families with budgeting skills to stretch limited funds and help them to find ways that they can manage their energy consumption going forward.”

How the Programme Works

The programme provides a one-time grant (up to CI$250) to eligible low-income customers who are struggling to pay their electricity bill. To apply individuals must complete an online application form.

To apply visit: www.resilience.ky/utilityrelief

Who Can Apply

The grant is available to individuals:

• Residing in the Cayman Islands (Caymanian, PR and Work Permit holders) who are at least 18 years old.

• Whose CUC account has a balance owing of at least one month.

• Who have stopped working or have significantly reduced hours because of reasons related to COVID-19.

• Who expect to have less than $CI 1,000 monthly employment/self-employment income in November 2020.

CUC Partnership

Nichelle Scott, Manager, Customer Services at CUC says “Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) is pleased to provide support to Resilience Cayman in its effort to help ensure that those persons who have been impacted by the COVID -19 pandemic are able to keep their power on.  Our Company has, from the outset, put plans in place to lessen the economic fallout from this pandemic to our customers. This partnership will ensure that these efforts continue.”

R3 Relief Prioritising Utility Support

R3 Chairman Bryan Hunter says the organisation is responding to the growing utility crisis on a number of fronts.

“We have seen an increase in charities seeking our assistance to provide utility relief to families and individuals who are unable to keep up with regular payments due to job loss resulting from the pandemic, and, from a Relief standpoint, we are working with those organisations to address this urgent need,” Mr. Hunter says. “From a Recovery perspective, we are also working with organisations, such as the University College of the Cayman Islands and Build Your Future Cayman, to help Caymanians who lost their jobs reskill or upskill so they can find employment.”

Mr. Hunter says local non-profit organisations, or organisations exempted from non-profit status under current legislation, can apply online for funding using a short application available on the R3 website.