Minister DaCosta & Senior Leadership Tour WAC Facilities
The Minister for District Administration and Home Affairs, Hon. Nickolas DaCosta, JP, MP, together with senior officials from the Ministry, recently participated in a comprehensive facilities tour of Water Authority – Cayman (WAC), visiting multiple sites across Grand Cayman to engage directly with staff who play a vital role in maintaining one of the country’s most essential public utilities. The tour provided the Minister and his delegation with firsthand insight into the Authority’s operations, infrastructure, and the dedicated personnel who ensure reliable water and wastewater services across the Cayman Islands.
The tour was facilitated by WAC Director Dr. Gelia Frederick-van Genderen, the Authority’s senior management team, and members of the Water Authority Board. Senior leaders from the Ministry of District Administration and Home Affairs (MDAHA) participating in the tour were Chief Officer, Michael Ebanks, Deputy Chief Officers Debbie-Ann Whittaker and Christina McTaggart, Acting Deputy Chief Officers Julian Lewis and Lisa Malice, and Chief Financial Officer Nicola Anderson Wildman.
The Minister and his delegation began their visit at the WAC Headquarters on Red Gate Road, where they were introduced to key departmental managers and greeted by staff before travelling to several major WAC sites, including the East End Wellfield, Lower Valley Water Works, North Side Water Works, Red Gate Water Works, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Throughout the day, the team was briefed on the Authority’s operations, infrastructure projects, and future development plans. They also took time to meet with frontline staff, learning about their daily responsibilities and the ongoing challenges of maintaining a reliable water supply and wastewater treatment across the Authority’s service areas on Grand Cayman, and Cayman Brac, with planned expansion to Little Cayman. The group also visited Scott’s Tarpon Springs Quarry to gain insight into the Authority's statutory function regarding the issuing of quarry permits.
Minister DaCosta, who previously served as an employee of the Water Authority and later as a member of the Board, expressed a deep sense of pride and familiarity during the visit. “This was more than a tour — it was a return home,” he said. “Having worked within the Authority, and further through my time on the Board, I understand the immense responsibility that comes with ensuring water security for the Cayman Islands. The Water Authority is a crucial cog in the functioning machine that keeps our country moving. Every drop of water and every system maintained here directly impacts the health, comfort, and sustainability of our society.” He added that the visit was designed not only to recognise the dedication of the staff but also to identify opportunities for collaboration and improvement. “It was important for our senior leadership team to be on the ground — to see, hear, and learn firsthand from those who keep this service running,” the Minister continued. “We discussed how we can better support staff, strengthen facilities, modernise procedures, and improve preparedness in case of emergencies. These insights will directly inform how the Ministry continues to work with the Authority to enhance operations and drive long-term resilience.”
"We were truly honoured to host the Honourable Minister and the Ministry’s leadership across our facilities,” remarks WAC Director, Dr Gelia Frederick-van Genderen. “It provided an invaluable opportunity for our staff to share their experiences, challenges, and successes directly with policymakers. Our staff works hard every day to provide access to potable water and safe wastewater management; it is work that touches every household, every business throughout the Cayman community. The engagement we experienced during this visit reaffirms that our collective focus remains on improving service delivery and building capacity for the future.”
The Minister and his delegation were especially impressed by the technical sophistication of the Authority’s wellfields, treatment systems, and monitoring infrastructure. The tour highlighted WAC’s continued investment in innovation and its proactive approach to environmental stewardship and national development.
Chief Officer, Michael Ebanks, noted that the visit exemplified the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnerships across its portfolio agencies. He explained that "the engagement offered a valuable perspective on how the Authority’s operations underpin national resilience. Water is one of those services we often take for granted until it stops,” he said, adding that "opportunities like this help close the gap between policy and practice. This level of engagement ensures that our policy direction and resource allocation align with the realities faced by frontline teams.”
The Ministry’s leadership expressed appreciation to Dr Frederick-van Genderen and her team for their professionalism and hospitality, commending their dedication to service excellence. The visit forms part of a series of agency and facility tours being undertaken by Minister DaCosta and the MDAHA senior leadership team, aimed at strengthening inter-agency collaboration, recognising frontline achievements, and identifying opportunities to modernise systems and improve operations across the Ministry’s diverse portfolio.
The Ministry of District Administration and Home Affairs extends its gratitude to the Water Authority–Cayman for its continued commitment to ensuring the reliable access to safe, clean drinking water — a vital service that supports the health, well-being, and daily lives of all residents of the Cayman Islands.
