MINISTER PHILLIP UPDATES THE NATION ON THE STATUS OF THE CAYON COMMUNITY CENTRE 

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, December 17, 2025 (SKNIS) – During her contribution to the 2026 Budget Debate on Tuesday, December 17, 2025, Senator, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, Minister of State within the Ministry of Social Development, provided an update on the ongoing closure and remediation efforts at the Cayon Community Centre, which also houses the Cayon Post Office.

Minister Phillip reminded that the facility was closed in 2022, after an air quality test revealed the presence of mold in multiple spaces on both floors of the building. In the interest of protecting the health and safety of staff who work at the centre and members of the public who access the services there, the government took the decision to close the facility temporarily to allow for all necessary remedial works to be carried out.

Since that time, extensive efforts have been made to identify and eliminate the source of the mold while also preventing future occurrences. Minister Phillip noted that a range of remedial activities has been undertaken, including the repair and recapping of a leaking roof, professional mold remediation, installation of new appliances and air conditioning units, extensive cleaning, repainting, repair of the fence, reconnection of the cistern, and replacement of all wooden doors, furniture, and other fixtures.

“After all of this work was completed we conducted additional air quality tests, but the presence of mold still remains at levels that require remediation,” Minister Phillip explained. “ The readings from the Saint Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards indicated that it was still too high.”

She further noted that, in response, the ministry engaged with several key stakeholders, including the Environmental Health Department and professional cleaning experts, to further assess the situation. “The decision is now taken to return focus to the roof of the community centre as all other sources of moisture have been remediated,” Minister Phillip stated.

According to Minister Phillip, the Public Works Department has since provided a scope of works for recapping the roof through the application of an additional layer of concrete. This work is expected to allow for proper drainage of water from the roof, thereby preventing pooling and eliminating the moisture that is believed to be contributing to the continued presence of mold. This next phase of remedial works is scheduled to commence in 2026.

Minister Phillip expressed sincere apologies to the residents of Cayon and the wider community for the inconvenience caused by the continued closure of the Cayon Community Centre. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring the facility for community use and to ensuring that it meets all safety and health standards before reopening. 

-30-