Community-led initiative exceeding US$60,000 restores vital youth facilities damaged by Hurricane Melissa as another hurricane season begins.
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS — A major hurricane recovery project led by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman (RCGC) is now days away from completion, bringing renewed protection and stability to one of Western Jamaica’s most important youth institutions just as the Caribbean once again enters hurricane season.
The project is set to fully restore the roofs of both the Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club’s main building and the Ratimir “Papa” Pavlovic Music Hall following the extensive devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica in October 2025.
The restoration project was made possible through the collective efforts of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman under the stewardship of Club President Vinton Chin, together with a coalition of donors, community leaders, businesses and Rotarians committed to helping rebuild facilities that have served generations of Jamaican youth.
Among the principal supporters of the Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club roof restoration were Cayman National Bank and members of its staff.
Additionally, the restoration of the Ratimir “Papa” Pavlovic Music Hall roof was made possible through the generosity of Sean O’Donnell, grandson of the late Rotarian Ratimir “Papa” Pavlovic, Canadian businessman and philanthropist Stephen Bronfman, and a dedicated group of Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, including Past District Governor David Kirkaldy, Past Rotary International Director Jeremy Hurst, Past President Christopher Johnson, Past President Alan Roffey, and Past President Nick Freeland.
Over the past several months, both buildings have undergone a remarkable transformation.
The completed works at the Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club will once again provide a safe and secure environment for the hundreds of children, families and community members who depend upon the Club’s programmes throughout the year.
Additionally, the restoration of the Ratimir “Papa” Pavlovic Music Hall carries particular significance. For decades, the late Papa Pavlovic, a former member of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, devoted himself to the Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club, leaving an enduring legacy of service that continues to shape the institution today. The rebuilding of the music hall stands not only as a restoration project, but as a tribute to that legacy and to the generations of young people who will continue to benefit from it.
Speaking on behalf of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, Club President Vinton Chin reflected on the significance of the project and the spirit of service behind it:
“This project reflects the very best of who we are as Rotarians. It demonstrates that service does not stop at our shores and that when communities face hardship, we have a responsibility to stand alongside them. We are deeply grateful to every donor, partner, volunteer and Rotarian who helped bring this project to life. As another hurricane season begins, it is especially meaningful to know that these buildings will once again provide safety, opportunity and hope for the young people who depend on them.”
Past President Alan Roffey, recently recognised as the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman’s 2025–2026 Rotarian of the Year, has been leading the project from Cayman through to completion.
Reflecting on the nearing completion of the works, Roffey said:
“When you first stand beneath a damaged roof, you see a construction project. When you stand beneath a completed one, you realise it was never really about the roof at all. It was about protecting a place that has shaped generations of young people. The Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club has been changing lives for decades, and I am proud that through the generosity of so many people, we have helped ensure it can continue doing so for many years to come.”
As the Caribbean once again faces the uncertainties of hurricane season, the restored buildings now stand ready to provide safety, stability and opportunity for the young people who rely upon them.
More than repaired roofs, they represent a powerful reminder that when communities work together across borders, recovery can become renewal.
To learn more about Rotary Club of Grand Cayman’s initiatives, visit http://www.rotary.ky or follow the club on social media.