Mac announces board and key post changes

| 03/07/2009

(CNS): As the new United Democratic Party government settles into the business of running the country, McKeeva Bush announced today a number of changes and new appointments to boards and other key posts. He said that it was customary when a new government  took office that members of the various boards would resign and await for government to either accept or refuse those resignations. Speaking about the Cayman Airways Board, where there were a number of resignations in the last few months and weeks, he said that a new board had now been appointed under the chairmanship of Jude Scott.

He also confirmed that the questions over Olsen Anderson, who had been CEO designate, was a staff matter for the airline but as far as he understoodhe had not been confirmed in post by the Civil Aviation Authority. Bush said there was no automatic say so for anyone to be appointed CEO and it had to be confirmed by the CAA.

Bush told the media at the first press briefing for the new government that Ken Hydes, the former managing director, would be returning to the Turtle Farm but this time as chair of the board. At the Trade and Business Licensing Board the LoGB said Garth Arch had been appointed as chair. He also announced his intention of creating a port authority for Cayman Brac, which he said would be headed by Sammy Jackson.

Following his announcement in the Legislative Assembly that George McCarthy would be taking up the chair of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, Bush also confirmed that McCarthy would be heading up the Financial Services negotiating team, which would be dealing with the necessary details relating to tax information exchange agreements. He said that he had established a new Financial Services Council, which would include McCarthy, along with Anthony Travers, Eduardo Silva, Nick Freeland, Charles Jennings, Sophia Dilbert and Paul Byles, who has also taken up the chair of the Cayman Islands Development Bank.

Turning to the UCCI, he said that he was in discussions with that board to recruit a permanent president and he was going to recommend that Roy Bodden should be given the post.

Bush also said that he was creating an entirely new committee as part of his goal to look at establishing a longterm national development plan for the country. While Kenneth Ebanks, the former Director of Planning, along with Carson Ebanks, the chief officer from his own ministry, would be heading the initiative, he said the new committee would be chaired by Burns Connolly and further appointments to that committee would be confirmed soon.

Asked what was happening with Angela Martins, who was the Chief Officer in the Ministry of Education before being replaced last month by Mary Rodrigues, Bush said that was a matter for the chief secretary.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Local News

About the Author ()

Comments (10)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Kerry Horek says:

    Congrats to Jude Scott the new Chairman of the CAL Board!!!

    Good luck and best wishes to you a fellow bracker!

  2. Anonymous says:

    All due respect the KX Chair should be filled with a person of airline/aviation experience! Its simple as that, why are we going this route again! We all know the Airline challenges, and yes there are some like in any other industry that have the experience etc but may not be effective, but surly we could find an appropriate "airline/aviation experieneced person" to guide our beloved airline! Not taking away from anyone’s credibility and qualifications, the Airline indusrty is a very different and unique business which demands a sound knowledge and experience of airline and aviation expertise and I don’t think the named chair brings that to the table…Good Luck AGAIN KX!…

  3. Anonymous says:

    I disagree…We most certainly need local folks to stand up and be responsible for our public interest, such as KX, however, they must also be held accountable…Running an airline is not a hobby…I think that the last chairperson would now reluctantly agree. For far too many years, the airline has been a playtoy for may foreigners , as well as politictal appointees trying their hand at "fixing" KX…Quite amazingly, some of the most loyal and dedicated employees in this country have worked there for their entire lives, or at least a great portion, and still own their service with pride. Ulrich Coe, Minnie Giddings,  Isabel Giger,  Doll Doll, Oneida Dingler, Wilfred Parchment,  Judy Ebanks, Mike Adams and too many more to mention. We have enough talent and skills to take care of KX, as long as we have the will, integrity and honesty to do so…I am reminded of the many, many, folks from many, many countries over the years, who came here, stole the airline blind in any way you can imagine, took kickbacks, got on a plane and left……AT LEAST if they are our own, we can hold them to account. Cayman Airways is about the last cultural icon remaining…Let us please take care of it.

  4. Bandaid says:

    Local bandaids don’t work.  We need someone in from abroad who is not afraid of telling entrenched local interests that they are wrong or acting out of self-interest.

  5. Anonymous says:

    The PPM should stop fighting down the UDP.

    The PPM lost the elections because people knew there was no "progress".

    Please PPM, stop tearing the country apart – work with the UDP – work with the Caymanian people.

  6. Anonymous says:

    …"Kenneth Ebanks, the former Director of Planning…"    the "Former" Director??? CNS, can you please clarify?

    CNS: We don’t know any more than that at this point.

    • Anonymous says:

      …"Kenneth Ebanks, the former Director of Planning…"    the "Former" Director??? CNS, can you please clarify?"

      Wasn’t it announced at last week’s press briefing that Kenneth Ebanks would be moved into Mr. Bush’s Ministry and that Haroon Pandohie is acting Director of Planning?

       

  7. Anonymous says:

    Great moves Mr. Bush.  Get rid of all the dead weight that the PPM put in and whatever you do, make sure you keep your eyes on the people you put in.  They all need to do well in their new appointments or they need to go.  No more free rides for anybody. 

  8. Anonymous says:

    "Speaking about the Cayman Airways Board where there were a number of resignations in the last few months and weeks he said that a new board had now been appointed under the chairmanship of Jude Scott."

    Well we’ve thrown everything else at CAL in the last 40 years, so let’s just try an auditor as the chairman.  At least the books will get caught up, but still not sure that it will show a profit. And with yet another change in direction at that company, what must the employee morale be like?

    "He said that it was customary when a new government  took office that members of the various boards would resign and await for government to either accept or refuse those resignations. "

    CG, was that also the case of the ERA board when the Government changed in 2005?

    "Ken Hydes the former Managing Director would be returning to the Turtle Farm but this time as Chair of the board "

    I’m not sure how being an unsuccessful MD qualifies you for the Chairman position? 

    Otherwise some good but obvious choices. Good luck to them all and more importantly, good luck to these islands!

    • Anonymous says:

      "Well we’ve thrown everything else at CAL in the last 40 years, so let’s just try an auditor as the chairman.  At least the books will get caught up, but still not sure that it will show a profit".

      You may not recall but we did have one as chairman of CAL in the person of Roy McTaggart.