BASSETERRE, SAINT KITTS – Senator the Honourable Isalean Phillip, Minister of State within the Ministry of Social Development, delivered a detailed progress report on the protracted closure and remediation of the Cayon Community Centre during her 2026 Budget Debate address on December 17, 2025.
The facility, which also accommodates the Cayon Post Office, was initially shuttered in 2022 following conclusive air quality assessments that detected hazardous mold contamination across both levels of the structure. This decisive action was undertaken by the government to safeguard the wellbeing of public servants and community members utilizing the center’s services, initiating a temporary closure to facilitate extensive corrective measures.
Minister Phillip catalogued the multifaceted remediation strategy executed over the past three years. These interventions encompassed structural repairs including the complete repair and recapping of a compromised roof, professional mold eradication procedures, and the installation of modernized appliances and climate control systems. Supplementary enhancements involved comprehensive deep cleaning, repainting of interior spaces, perimeter fence restoration, cistern reconnection, and the wholesale replacement of all wooden doors, furniture, and compromised fixtures.
Despite these considerable efforts, subsequent air quality evaluations conducted by the Saint Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards persistently indicated mold concentrations exceeding acceptable thresholds, necessitating further intervention. In response, the ministry initiated collaborative consultations with environmental health specialists and industrial cleaning experts to reassess the situation.
The investigation concluded that residual moisture infiltration from the roof structure remains the primary catalyst for recurrent mold proliferation. Consequently, the Public Works Department has formulated a technical specification for applying an additional concrete layer to the roof, designed to optimize water drainage and eliminate moisture accumulation.
This conclusive phase of structural modification is scheduled for implementation in early 2026. Minister Phillip extended profound apologies to Cayon residents for the prolonged inconvenience, while reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to restoring full community access to the facility upon verification of complete compliance with all health and safety protocols.