Ebanks new Chief Secretary
(CNS): Following the announcement in March of the early retirement of Chief Secretary George McCarthy, Governor Stuart Jack has appointed the current Deputy Chief Secretary to fill the post. Donovan Ebanks will take up his new position as Chief Secretary and Head of the Civil Service on the 1 July. According to the Governor’s Office, Ebanks was appointed after an open recruitment process for which three candidates applied and “two excellent candidates” were chosen to be interviewed by a recruitment panel chaired by the governor.
Also on the panel was the current chief secretary, as well as Sharon Roulstone, a prominent lawyer and Colin Ross a retired civil servant and former Deputy Head of the Civil Service.
Ebanks has a long and distinguished public service career, joining the Public Works Department in 1975 rising to Chief Engineer in 1983 and was then promoted to Deputy Chief Secretary in 1994. In the mid nineties heco-lead the reform initiative, which was named “Reinvention of the Public Service”, which transitioned into the financial management initiative and the personnel reforms. During his time as Deputy Chief Secretary he has had a leading role in a number of salary and pension initiatives and been instrumental in the review of immigration laws and procedures.
Ebanks has been a member of the National Hurricane Committee since its inception in the mid eighties and chaired the committee on many occasions. At the time of Hurricane Ivan, he not only chaired the National Hurricane Committee, but was in operational control before during and after this catastrophic event in Cayman’s history.
The governor commented, “I am delighted to have such an able and experienced person to be the next Chief Secretary and Head of the Civil Service to lead the civil service through the difficult economic times ahead.” He also acknowledged the sterling work of McCarthy as Financial Secretary and Chief Secretary in the significant changes he had brought about in the culture of the civil service primarily in the areas of financial and human resource management.
The position of chief secretary was advertised as carrying a salary of between CI$165,144 to CI$182,292.
Category: Headline News
"Who do you think was in charge of the salary review team back in ’95-’96 that led to this???
Yep!! I’m BAAAAAAACK!!! Thanks to all of you who missed me so much that you begged for me to come back and post….your thoughts were deeply appreciated…."
TEAM CAYMAN, grow up and stop irritating your betters. When you have something meaningful to say… well, no point in finishing that sentence.
"Congrats Sir, lets hope your term starts with a comprehensive salary review, not just for those being underpaid at the bottom and middle of the scales but includes a little parity and also reviews those being overpaid at the top."
Who do you think was in charge of the salary review team back in ’95-’96 that led to this???
Yep!! I’m BAAAAAAACK!!! Thanks to all of you who missed me so much that you begged for me to come back and post….your thoughts were deeply appreciated….
THANKS
Let me thank all those who took the time to express such kind comments – especially my former classmates Ezzard and Shervin, and my fellow North Siders. That was very kind of you and it is much appreciated.
And to those who had less complimentary things to day, thank you too; no offence taken whatsoever! I’ve come to relaise along the way that, as the great comedian and social educator Bill Cosby put it, while I may not have learned the key to success, I’ve learned that the key to failure is trying to please everyone. So while Pale Rider was at the front of his line, I’m sure he wont be lonely over there:).
I’ve always condiered it a privilege to be paid to work towards making these islands a better place for all of us and in particular for our children and their children that we must someday leave them to. Cayman needs all of us doing our respective parts towars this goal. I’ll welcome your comments and criticisms as we go forward and I’m counting on each of you to be doing your part.
God bless,
Donnie
It’s past 3:36 on a Friday afternoon and I’m a Civil Servant so I’m not sure what I am still doing at work. But anyway, just enough time for one last post before I go, Congrats Sir, lets hope your term starts with a comprehensive salary review, not just for those being underpaid at the bottom and middle of the scales but includes a little parity and also reviews those being overpaid at the top.
Now off to spend it all at happy hour!
See ya
Pale RRidah ..weh is man ….I say sowee meng! Try so com back leh we taawk. I still goh da spellin problem duh.
Caymanians seem to be people with the shortest memory in the world. They have already forgotten that Donny was one of those deeply involved in the Henderson fiasco which cost us millions of dollars. He was no inocent by-stander. Maybe that is why the goveror thought he was the best candidate for the job!!!
If UDP wins this election that will say a lot about the deterioration of good Caymanian ethics and morals.
"I do not see that the poster was disrespecting such people, merely pointing out that salaries for them are poor everywhere else. Salary reviews always seem to pass over the civil servants mentioned-not just here in Cayman."
I beg to differ, sir. My interpretation of this statement was that the writer meant to deride those civil servants who do or did not have the opprtunity to achieve an education higher than that high school and have the gall to think they deserve to advance or be promoted through hard work and merit. Most civil servants that I know of who do not get promoted to higher ranks don’t do so because of a lack of experience or knowledge, they get passed over because they refuse to kiss A** and play politics…If the writer of this statement wishes to refute my interpretation, then I invite it.
As far as needin to get sun….get a life!! My name does not reflect my skin color….
I am the original poster, Pale Rider, and I apologise if my post led you to take offence. As the other poster said, I was not intending to be disrespectful about those who didn’t have the opportunity to go on for further education after high school. Many of those who did (and do) here and elsewhere aren’t any the better as people for it, nor is their contribution to our society necessarily any the better. For the record, I am grateful to those who protect us and our borders and support advancement through merit and hard work.
I still say that it is irresponsible of would be politicians to promise pay rises at this time as it just raises unfulfillable expectations.
I didn’t say anything about you needing sun and neither did the other poster defending my original post. It sounds like an offensive remark you should just ignore.
"Pale Rider is a acluclated mischief ignitor, and ankle biter. I believe he jolly well knows that Olsen Anderson is a tertiary trained, has accounting experience, is a qualified airline pilot, captain with extensive overseas experience."
NO WHERE DID I SAY SUCH A STATEMENT!!! ONCE AGAIN, DO NOT CRITICISE ME FOR THINGS WHICH I DID NOT SAY!!!
AND NEXT TIME YOU POST……USE SPELL CHECK, YOU MORON!!!!
Pale Rydaya …u ankle bitah… i hopes you not flyin me wen i going way nex…
Pale Rideyah…true ting spellin no my ting you kno…jus callin em as i sea em. Didn mean to urt ur feelins. Please doh be mad at me any more…puleeeess!! The all caps ting fritnin me. I pwomis to leran to spell if u pramise not to bee mada me. Deel!
Ok i suck back wa i said u had said k!
Crabs in a bucket, ya mon….
Hey isnt this the guy who said to Bridger don’t worry we will find you a JP who will sign your search warrant! which then led to Henderson being arrested and then the whole saga which went to court. Yes that’s what it said in Creswell’s judgement in the judicial review. Hey good promotion idea!
Congrats Mr. Ebanks. You so deserve it!
To those who support Franz Manderson if he were to be promoted I say he would surely deserve it, but I say he definitely needs to continue his good work at Immigration or God help us all.
As for Joel Walton, he is known to be pro PPM and we do not need that kind of bias in such a high office. This country is in too bad shape as it is thanks to the PPM.
As for Olsen Anderson of Cayman Airways, no matter how many years experience a bus driver has that does not automatically qualify him to run the bus company! Nuff said!
To "This country is in too bad shape as it is thanks to the PPM." Clearly you have not kept up with the political status because PPM is CLEANING UP THE MESS THAT UDP MADE!!! Better yet, UDP does not stand a chance with votes from people who don’t base decisions based on the Dollar!!!!! UDP will sell this country out quicker than you can say steam fish if they get back in! How quickly you forget: the Ritz mess, the beaches taken away, the 3000 odd STATUS GRANTS!, the land leases to DART!, Cayman Kai property sold out!…the free washer and dryer of course, and the Sunday dinner’s at big mac’s house!, oh and the list can go on if you like to be bought!
Huh? Why is this post connected to Donnie’s appointment?
Might I ask what is wrong with the Ritz development and Dart’s investment and contributions to these Islands. BOTH very favourable if you ask me – lots of employment for Caymanians.
The status give aways is old news – its time to give up on that matter – it is over and done with and cannot be changed and dont forget the PPM got status for all their friends etc. at that time also so UDP cant take all the blame.
What beaches have we lost. Each and every government has made it a priority to make sure that each district has a wonderful public beach there is access to seven mile beach every few hundred feet and we can use the beach any where up to the high water mark. Please enlighten us as to what beaches we have lost.
We have gained beautiful parks provided for by the DART company which we can all enjoy.
"The status give aways is old news – its time to give up on that matter – it is over and done with and cannot be changed and dont forget the PPM got status for all their friends etc. at that time also so UDP cant take all the blame".
No, its not over and done with. First, its effect are with us still and will be for generations to come. Second, the UDP has never admitted that this was wrong and apologised to the people. Instead it has tried to justify it, pretend the UK forced it to do it and deflect blame by saying the PPM got status for their friends at the same time. We can therefore expect it to take equally insane decisions in the future. Let’s be clear: the issue is not whether PPM proposed some names, it is about the process whereby these were granted, the lack of any kind of background check or consistent criteria and that undeserving people were granted while may deserving people were not granted, and finally the sheer number that were granted. These issues are solely the responsibility of those making the grants, i.e. the UDP Cabinet. Don’t try to confuse the issue. Leadership is about taking responsibility. So WE WILL NOT FORGET.
I see that DART has to the surface again. Will Cayman once more be U-nder D-art’s P-ower?
McKeeva has turned 7 mile beach into a concrete jungle all because of personal greed. Now it is no longer attractive to our tourists who do not feel they are experiencing a Caribbean Island vacation.
God forbid that we should ever see that lot back in power.
Status giveaways is not old news … it lingers as it should and Caymanians should not forget it. Caymanians should also watch and question what the so called boards are doing now. Did anyone get a report on how many status or residency has been given away by this administration through their board? Even if the cabinet itself didnt give away status we can bet their political appointments on the board did and not only status but permanent residence which almost guarantees status in a year or two afterthey get naturalized. so, yea, Caymanians should questio and not forget, this is major stuff that affects the future of this country in a big way!
I honestly believe that "this country is in too" poster do not see the silver lining behind the dark clouds. These companies came here and helped developed this country and so therefore we as caymanians will benefit from it. The beaches are ours and according to the law any one can go to the beach up to the high water mark and enjoy them selves, BUT however we as good citizens should not try to destroy what was built and what brought in the tourist to spend their green back dollars that allow us the standard of living that we are accustomed to.We should keep these areas clean and stop the loud music and trashing of these areas.
You name a few land leases, Ritz Carlton, cayman Kai all great areas, but we are destroying them not Dart,not Ritz, not Cayman kai, we are, so stop the bitching and use the forum for what it was meant for.
Congratulate Mr Ebanks. Enough of the rhetoric you are all blinded by false alarms, wolves in sheep clothing.
"Obviously some disaffected civil servant blaming Donnie for teachers and nurses and the straight from High School with no qualification group- firemen,customs officers, immigration officers etc not doing as well as they would have liked."
WOW!!! So you are saying that the people who you depend on the most to sleep soundly at night and rescue your sorry A** when you get into trouble deserve to be treated like less than human because they chose to go straight from high school into the civil service and "Serve and Protect" the likes of completely unappeciative persons like you???
….it’s not only the foreignors who are looking down their noses at us….now we have a completely new group….the "Upper Crust Caymanians" Just another example of the "us vs. them" attitude, only this time it’s our own people….
People like you, make those of us who put our very lives on the line every day for you, SICK!!
Hope the next time you need help, you specify that only someone "qualified" come to your aid….
Pale Rider:
Read the post again and note that the poster said of the low salaries paid to certain civil servants that this was not Mr Ebanks fault-"it’s a fact of life everywhere, deplorable though that is".
I do not see that the poster was disrespecting such people, merely pointing out that salaries for them are poor everywhere else. Salary reviews always seem to pass over the civil servants mentioned-not just here in Cayman.
In response to Pale Rider and his comments regarding the person at Cayman Airways having no corresponding education.
I do not mind being corrected when the facts warrant that I have spoken incorrectly, but PLEASE DO NOT attribute comments to me unless they are in fact written by me…..
Donnie Ebanks, congratulations on your appointment to this position. A well deserved promotion. You have dedicated your life to the civil service and ths country. I pray the Lord give you wisdom and grace to govern the people.
Thankfully common sense has prevailed for once.
Now Joel Walton should be promoted to the Deputy Chief Secretary’s position.
We need Franz to keep watching the cheese a little longer!
There are just too many Big Rats out there right now for him to move!
It tough Franz but you got to do it!
Donnie you have paid a price at times too high for your service and your survival.
Congratulations. You have earned your stripes after being spurned and denigrated, discouraged and pushed to the edge.
The wire act has not changed only the intensity of the lights. You can do it.
Hail to the Chief.
(Craddock winkin)
Excellent news- the Governor’s string of bad decisions has stopped. Now all we have to do is get Mr Ebanks replacement correct and we are back on track.
Yes; he finally got one right – hip hip, hoorah! But what took him so long? Doesn’t he appreciate that a series of other recruitments now need to happen and they certainly can’t be done by the end of next month when Mr McCarthy leaves!
Oh well, guess we just have to be grateful he didn’t make a mess of this.
Congratulations to Mr. Ebanks.
I am amused by the Governor’s tribute to McCarthy for the ‘sterling work;’ that brought about the changes in financial and human resource managemnt. So is he the one responsible for the failure to get audited accounts and for the increase in the cost of human resource management? I hope that is not what he will be remembered by.
"Congratulations to Mr.."
No McCarthy isn’t responsible for that. How could he or anyone get rid of the incompetent Caymanians (some of them very senior in the Finance portfolio) supposed to be delivering on these requirements when in our Civil Service it’s a job for life? Why do you think the Civil Service is stuffed with Caymanians who couldn’t make it in the Private Sector. I could name them (some of them tried it and had to hop back into government when their private sector employers lit a fire under them) but CNS rightly wouldn’t publish it. The technical term is "an employer of last resort"-in other words and to bring it into the local arena, if you’re Caymanian and can’t make it in the Private Sector, there’s a job for you in government. That may or may not be a bad thing but it is the way it works so complaints about non performance are a waste of time.
Ah so it go.
The Civil Serice is stuffed with many incompetent individuals of various nationalities, not only Caymanians. Obviously you are biased and have a strong dislike for Caymanians, but if you could look beyond the tunnel vision you will find that many of the positions to which you refer, and which are responsible to produce vital data for the government, are in fact filled by incompetent expatriates. A technical term that comes to my mind is "a resident of last resort" – in other words, persons unable to make it in their own countries but who have been welcomed and given good paying jobs in the wonderful Cayman Islands by the kind Caymanian people. Nuff said.
"The Civil Service is stuffed with…"
Ah, but the very big difference is, the incompetent expatriate ( yes, they do exist ) can easily be got rid off after just two years by not renewing his/her contract. Caymanians, competent (and they exist too ) or not, are there for life or until they choose to leave.
Big, big difference, no true?
Congratulations Donnie, you deserve it,a true dedicated north sider, I am so proud of you as a fellow north sider.
You have displayed the courage and set the example for your fellow caymanians of what hard work determination will do for you. I know that your mom is a very proud lady today and your dad and brother have to be smiling upon you. You made your family proud, your district, north side we did it again. Congrats Donnie.
Good for you Donnie.
Congratulations Mr. Ebanks!! This promotion is well deserved and I wish you much success. You are one of the very few individuals within the civil service who could even be considered for this position.
Now, the only thing that civil servants need to be concerned about is who his replacement as Deputy Chief Secretary will be. Many people are speculating that it will be Franz Manderson and the whole country needs to worry about who HIS replacement will be!!! The fact of the matter is that there is no one within that department possessing the qualifications and skills, or who has gained the trust and respect of staff (or us the public!!!) to fill the position. This is voiced by many from within the department and from the public arena. We hope that Mr. Ebanks and others concened will recognise that fact and do what is right by the department and the country.
Congratulations Mr Ebanks. This is well deserved.
You certainly deserve this position and have the knowledge and experience to do an excellent job and I am confident you will!!
Congrats and all the best wishes for success.
Shervin
In response to Pale Rider. Mr. Ebanks has much experience, education and training behind him so please stop putting down a very loyal civil servant as has been Mr. Ebanks who has himself put up with a lot to survive and get to the top. You sound like a bunch of sour grapes. At least he wasn’t a political appointee with no experience or corresponding education for the job like what has happened at Cayman Airways. Now that is something Caymanians should balk at! There are quite a few other qualified Caymanians who would be perfectly able to run that as a proper business if the politicians just stayed out of it.
In response to Pale Rider and his comments regarding the person at Cayman Airways having no corresponding education.
I stand corrected by my knowledge of Mr. Anderson is that he most certainly does have a college education and in business at that PLUS he is and has been for many years a very very competetent airline captain.
Pale Rider is a acluclated mischief ignitor, and ankle biter. I believe he jolly well knows that Olsen Anderson is a tertiary trained, has accounting experience, is a qualified airline pilot, captain with extensive overseas experience.
He has returned to his land of birth to take his rightful place. This will not be denied him as as been attempted on numerous occasions in times past by many of mediocre talent with no roots here.
Olsen is to be commended as rising above those who have tried every trick to thwart his noble and simple ambitions to make the best of opportunities, contribute to his country, ignite a vison in the next generation of Cayman youth.
We will hedge around you Olsen. You are not alone.
Pale Rider try so go geta sun tan an hush talkn foolisniss
Congrats to Mr. Ebanks who has proven to be loyal and committed to this country’s government. We should all be very proud and I am sure his fellow North Siders are especially proud.
"This man is 59". (wrong I think but…)
So what? He doesn’t have to retire at 60.
I never thought I would agree with Ezzard Miller but he’s spot on with this one, including his comment about North Side. Donnie is a class act and very well deserves the position. He should ignore Pale Rider’s comment. Obviously some disaffected civil servant blaming Donnie for teachers and nurses and the straight from High School with no qualification group- firemen,customs officers, immigration officers etc not doing as well as they would have liked. This isn’t Donnie’s fault, it’s a fact of life everywhere, deplorable though that is. And never mind, we have some candidates promising to raise some of these civil servant salaries in an economic downturn! Really smart!
This man is 59 years old.Hopefully the have a young caymanian qualified for his post next year!!!!!!!
"Hopefully this means better treatment of Caymanians in the Civil Service."
Yeah right….,
Donovan is cut from the same cloth as Wally….all about numbah 1!!!….ask him how he was involved in those so called "salary and pension initiatives" and how many Caymanians actually benefitted from said initiatives??? The answer?? Not as many as all those foreignors who were heads and top managers of Government departments, who got HUGE increases in salary…and the resulting increase in pension payouts that go along with it, and then got to retire with a fat pension check courtesy of the CI government, while the rank and file members of the civil service, which consists of mostly Caymanians, got so little as to be almost an insult….
Remember what they say…." the grass is always greener over the septic tank…."
Congratulations to Donnie Ebanks on his appointment as Chief Secretary, another major achievement for a North Sider and the class of 69.
I am confident that Donnie will be a good Chief Secretary and that he will lead the Civil Service to new hights of performance, efficiency, effectiveness and service to the Caymanian public.
Ezzard Miller
Congratulations Donnie!
You have worked hard and no one can dispute your loyalty and committment to your work.
You are truly a testament of what a real Caymanian is all about!
Good Luck and Godspeed!!
Great news! Congrats to Mr. Ebanks! Well deserved appointment.
Congratulations!
Hopefully this means better treatment of Caymanians in the Civil Service.
Best of two…he must be so proud !!! As to better treatment of Caymanians in the Civil Service they are the only ones who work ( ?) without the constant fear that their contracts not be renewed if they dare speak up or challenge anything. Caymanians remember this man’s ‘Portfolio’ covers the Prison Service, the RCIPS and hold s the purse strings so it will not matter who you vote in…he will be running this Island.