McCarthy bids farewell

(CNS): Chief Secretary George McCarthy stepped down from his post on Tuesday and retired from the civil service after more than 36 years. Earlier this week top government officials, colleagues and staff of his Portfolio attended an informal lunch to celebrate the culmination of his distinguished career. Incoming Chief Secretary Donovan Ebanks said McCarthy had been a role model to many and wished him a long and enjoyable retirement.

McCarthy joined the civil service in 1974 as an internal auditor. In 1992 he became Cayman’s Financial Secretary, and in 2004 he was appointed to the country’s most senior civil service position – Chief Secretary, head of the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs and Head of the Civil Service.

Speaking of his many retirement plans, Mr. McCarthy simply said, “It pays to have a sense of adventure.”

However the Leader of Government Business  McKeeva Bush announced to the Legislative Assembly on Monday that McCarthy would be taking up Chairmanship of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority as his talents were too good for the country to lose. In his tribute Bush said he had made a “stellar contribution,” to the country.

The Leader of Government Business said that McCarthy’s accomplishments were all the more impressive because they were achieved with “customary unflappable efficiency.”

As he said goodbye to his public sector colleagues lunch McCarthy encouraged civil servants to always be courteous as well as efficient.  “We’re the beneficiaries of a very rich heritage,” he said. “It should be a privilege to serve.”