Top immigration job filled
(CNS): One of the Cayman Islands government’s most important top jobs has gone to Linda Evans, who will become the country’s first female Chief Immigration Officer when she takes up the new post next month. Chosen by an interview panel from seven applicants, Evans will be retuning to the department where she began her civil service career. The panel was chaired by Franz Manderson, the former CIOand Deputy Chief Secretary, and included other senior civil servants as well as Taron Jackman, a partner with Deloitte who noted that Evans’ own private sector experience would be advantageous.
“I am confident that Ms Evans will do an excellent job. From a private sector perspective it is good that the new Chief Immigration Officer has private sector as well as government experience; she will better understand our issues,” added Jackman.
Evans started her civil service career as a junior officer in the Immigration Department and went on to hold various positions in the civil service until she went into the private sector. She held senior management positions at Caledonian Bank and Trust Ltd., and Appleby Hunter and Bailhache (now Appleby), and after five years she returned to the public sector as Assistant Deputy Chief Secretary (Deputy Chief Officer) – a position she held for the last two years.
Manderson said he was extremely pleased to have such a capable person appointed to the position. “Ms Evans is a highly qualified young Caymanian with a valuable blend of private and public sector experience. She brings an excellent track record of managing large numbers of staff and delivering results,” he added.
Evans beat out candidates from the public sector, private sector and overseas, none of whom were serving members of the Immigration Department. The post was advertised locally over a period of five weeks and, along with Jackman and Manderson, the panel which chose Evans, also included the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs’ Deputy Chief Officer Eric Bush, and Strategic Adviser to the Chief Secretary Peter Gough.
Evans said she was looking forward to working hand-in-hand with senior management and staff in taking the department forward, despite the economic challenges facing the country.
“I recognise that we will be expected to do more with less, but I see this as an opportunity for the department to discover new and innovative ways of conducting business and improving efficiency,” she said, adding that she owed a debt of gratitude to all the people who mentored and supported her during her career.
“The fact that I report to Mr Manderson, who held the post of Chief Immigration Officer for the past five years, is comforting to me. I know I can rely on his full support.”
Evans has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami, and a master’s degree in organisational management from the University of Tennessee.
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Category: Headline News
Agreed! Congratulations! How many were interviewed? The Marl Road says not many.
I think Linda Evans is a great choice, however she takes the reins at a tough time with the economy looking a little fragile and with two powerful groups who have opposing interests.
A large percentage of the key players in the financial sector / business community clearly believes that the economic challenges warrant a relaxing of immigration laws (and the roll over), so the country can continue to grow and effectively compete in the global market place. Without swift and proactive steps they say that outsourcing of jobs will increase and companies will uproot and move to more business friendly environments . On the other hand you have Caymanians who want vigorous protectionism so they can find jobs, recieve training and experience upward mobility.
It is a tightrope that Miss Linda will be walking but I believe she is up to the challenge. She has good common sense and integrity, and I wish her the best of luck. I am sure she will try to work diligenctly for the best medium to long term interests of the Country and that is all we can really ask of her.
Hey- now lets put INTELLIGENT, FAIR MINDED, PROFESSIONAL, UN-BIASED, SMART and MANAGEMENT style leaders in charge of Labour and Pension and we will be on the right track
That’s weird. The one negative post about Ms Evans was removed? Why would CNS do that all the other posts were positively glowing so I would have dismissed it anyway. I don’t know her and I wish her the best of luck but it is strange that the post was removed?? CNS are you being bias??
CNS: It was pointed out to us that part of that comment that was personal and inappropriate — and I agreed. Negative comments about people in top positions are generally allowed so long as it concerns their professional capabilities.
Well done CNS…good to see that there are some with standards in the Caymanian Press Corp!!
… at least at CNS. They rest of the press here remain a little suspect.
CNS: I agree. it was personal and in very poor taste.
Good call CNS – I read that post and it contributed nothing to the discussion. Whatever made that poster personally bitter and twisted has no place being ventilated here. They sounded kind of unbalanced, really.
Congratulations Linda. I remember you from your term atAppleby, and I have no doubt you will do a most excellent job.
Sorry CNS, your excuse doesnt hold water. Why didn’t you just redact portions of it with XXXXXX, as you have done previously? Why remove the entire post, leaving only praise posts??
Furthermore, this policy is certainly not being employed consistently: there are LOADS of comments which do not "add anything" to the discussion, are biased, racist and in the way of personal attacks all over this site – so curious why you chose this particular story there are now such supposed high-standards?
CNS – still waiting on a proper explanation about why your removed the entire post instead of redacting like XXXXX as is done in other instances??
CNS: While you’re waiting, repost your comment without the malicious part.
If I recall the original comment correctly, there would be nothing leftif the malicious part were removed. Should be an interesting repost.
Oh, and to the original poster: You really need to XXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXX X XXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXX and your grandmother XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX and your cat too! Enough said.
[just a little posting humour]
The post CNS deleted was unfair and personal. Linda is a pleasant intelligent lady. She had a middling level career in the civil service and then very brief tenure in two companies in the private sector and one wonders why she left there to return to government-alas, that’s always a red flag. Whatever, this position is a very very difficult one and if she is not up to it, it will be obvious and she will receive no mercy. Those of us who like her wish her well but we are worried.
Why is it so important to emphasise that this woman is from West Bay? The best news is that she is CAYMANIAN. The island is only 24 miles long. Districts don’t mean anything here anymore. We don’t need donkeys and catboats to get around anymore. Technology has made the island even smaller.
This woman is shining example of what other little Caymanian girls can aspire to be with hard work…. no matter where in Cayman they live.
Really… Caymanians are so tribal… first it was district against district and now it’s party against party.
The minds of this island need to grow up and evovle. This is why we are suffering now because of old-time mentality. Caymanians are not united. Never have been.
From one Caymanian to the next… I congratulate you Linda Evans… regardless of what area you live… all that matters to me is that you are a Caymanian woman who will inspire our young women. We need more like you!
Good luck.
You are so right. Caymanians are very tribal. Clashes between districts are not new. Clashes between churches are not new. Clashes between schools are not new…..it’s funny that people say Cayman is too small for party politics when we fight about everything else anyway. If you ask me it looks like it fits right in with our nature.
………now more importantly…..congratulations to Linda Evans!
CONGRATS!!!
Am proud to see postions like this been filled by a young Caymanian.
It’s a rocky road & alot of garbage to clean up in that department.
I wish you the best.
God bless our Islands.
Congratulations, Linda. This is a good choice – Linda is steady, thoughtful and intelligent.
Congratulations to Mrs. Linda! I am very happy to see her in this position and wish her the best of luck. You go my friend!! You are well deserving of your accomplishments.
Great news another Caymanian success story- An excellent choice by the panel. I have worked with Linda and I know that she will do whatever it takes to get the job done. She is an excellent manager which is exactly what the Immigration Department needs. We will watching very closely as to who Linda chooses as her Deputies.
I am proud that they have chosen a Caymanian thats very educated and smart and is definetely the right woman for the job. Linda has work hard over the many years and she really deserves this top position. Westbayers you should all feel proud of her. So with that being said congrats Linda and i hope that they will continue to put more Caymanians in these kinds of position.
Congratulations Linda! Great choice my the panel. Linda has the experience and knowledge to take the Immigration Department to another level.
what an excellent choice!! well i must say a warm Caymanian (she hails from west bay as well) congrats to Linda. I have every confidence that our Caymanian lady will continue to steer the good ship Cayman along nicely. When the winds come blowing (and they will), I know that Lnda guided nicely by the watchful eyes of Mr. manderson (bayer 🙂 will weather nicely.
Keep pressing on my Caymanian-sister and thanks for taking on this awesome responsibility.
Dis ya one requires a lil brewed cuban cupful with lil sugar.
Congratulations to Linda Evans a full bread West Bayer!!!!! Cayman You are in good Hands. For the record, she is the niece of the late most Honorable Brother Thomas C. Jefferson. You go girl make uncle, us West Bayers and Cayman proud. We love ya LE!!
Congrats Linda I know you will do well!
An excellent choice- I am very proud that a young Caymanian woman was chosen for this position. I commend Mr Manderson and the rest of interview panel for their choice. While Ms Evans has big shoes to fill I am sure she will do an excellent job. Caymanians lets get behind Ms Evans she is going to need our support.