Civil service bosses still filling top jobs

| 20/08/2012

goab34.jpg(CNS): Despite the problems faced by government’s growing public sector wage bill, the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs has announced that two top posts have been filled. The portfolio’s chief officer, Eric Bush, said that existing civil servant Wesley Howell had been appointed as the deputy chief officer for security and public safety and Briana Ebanks, who comes from the private sector, was the new chief human resources manager. "I am happy to have both positions filled with such talented and professional Caymanians," Bush said in a statement released in the midst of news that the UK wanted to see further cuts in government’s operating expenditures.

The revelation that the two senior posts had been filled comes against the backdrop of a major budget crisis, with the UK asking for a further $20 million in cuts and still holding out on its approval of the Cayman government’s already much delayed 2012/13 budget.

The Legislative Assembly meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon, when the premier had wanted to deliver his annual spending plan, was cancelled at the last minute as there was still no approval from London because of the continued dispute over spending reductions. McKeeva Bush, who is also minister of finance, has told the UK that his government can go no further when it comes to spending cuts and he has refused to cut civil service jobs.

There was, however, meant to be a moratorium on new recruitment, with the exception of teachers and it is not clear how the two senior top paying jobs have managed to avoid the public sector recruitment freeze.

Eric Bush said that both positions were advertised and received several applications and after an initial short-listing, qualified applicants attended a day-long assessment, which tested their relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The top three candidates were then interviewed.

For the DCO post, the panel consisted of Alistair Walters, Managing Partner of Campbell’s; Chris Duggan, Senior Manager at Butterfield Bank; and Eric Bush. The panel for the HR position included Bush; Kathryn Dinspel-Powell, Deputy Chief Officer for Corrections and Rehabilitations; and Peter Gough, Strategic Advisor to the Deputy Governor.

Howell now assists Bush with the overall management of the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs – in particular, the Security and Public Safety Division.

As deputy chief officer, Howell is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the RCIPS, Immigration, Hazard Management and Public Safety Communications (911) and provides strategic policy advice on border control and immigration’s internal operations, crime prevention, response and prosecutions, as well as hazard mitigation, management and disaster preparedness, a release from GIS stated. For the past two decades Howell has been at the core of government’s Computer Services Department (CSD). He was promoted to Deputy Director of CSD in 1999.

Meanwhile, Ebanks will provide professional advice as an “internal consultant” to PIE’s senior management, while simultaneously improving the HR activities throughout its departments. This includes ensuring compliance with legal and policy requirements, contracts and performance management.

Prior to joining government, she worked in the corporate and non-profit sectors. For five years she was development manager for the National Trust for the Cayman Islands. Following that, she worked as HR manager for a major local retail/service company, and then spent almost a decade in management/consulting with a leading offshore law firm.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Here we go again when it comes to the bullsh*t that goes on in Government. Here's another story……… A certain staff member resigned and was appointed to a post that was not advertised. Why? Because the big bosses shuffled whatever it took to get him in that post. This staff member's previous post is now vacant and while an advert for it is not evident, his good buddy has already been trained by him for post and the buddy is confident enough to be advising the public that he has already been told by the powers-that-be that he has the job. Interesting to see if and when the advert comes out and how it will be handled if suitable candidates from the public applies. Things that make ya go hmmm……

  2. Anonymous says:

    Two more Gas Boy cards and 2 more King Ranch edition luxury pick-up trucks with custom wheels please. Maybe lease them 2 new offices somewhere other than the CIG building too. They will probably need to ramp up their respective HR and PR departmetns and dont forget to order additional CCTV's for your Departments, Mr. Eric Bush can hook you up.

    • CCTV? says:

      CCTV?  You mean the contract for his best buddy?  Yes….let's look at that.  Just this week The Security Centre was noted as having a VERY high work permit population – maybe understandable for security guards, but WHY is there call center in BERMUDA???  Because it helps the regional operation?  Gee, I'd like to see a LOCAL response team please.  My money going to Bermuda call centers when my college kids cant get a local job?

  3. Donnie's Yard says:

    Anonymous 15:43 A computer specialist who integrated the CCTV system in government which is very near and dear to Mr Bush's heart and financial per strings, They don't work for government infact government works for them! comprendo  I hope you are now enlighten?

    • Anonymous says:

      Some one should FOI on the credentials off all the other candidates that applied for this Job! Wow!

  4. J Northside Rangers says:

    This is Outrageous at a time like this Cayman UNited needs to speakout about this. Someone needs to sort out Donny boy Jr and get rid of the rest of his little entourage tooo? wasting government money as usual

  5. Mr Windfern slippery says:

    Can you imagine this BS still going on in the face of this island current woes Cant say i am surprise by those involved who clearly are above the rules and appear to be a power unto themselves.listen for the Excuse now "This was put in place before the current budget woes" yes Missa Bush takin care of your bizzness as usual to hell with the rest Bwoy! Cayman United wey ya deh????

  6. Ces Milo says:

    Don't these people have a conscience the budget is not even approved and they are hiring more people what part of a hiring freeze don't they understand?? the blantant disregard for their own dictate is duly noted and pretty obvious it doesn't apply to them.

  7. Ces Milo says:

    Will the nepotism and cronyism ever stop in Government Come on Cayman United dealwith this BS

  8. Anonymous says:

    The rules do not apply when certain interest have to be protected or threatened that's just how it is in the "Gowernment" You can bet your life that these appointments is just to take care of someone's Bizness or CSA Cover Somebodeee A$$. How sad eh! 

  9. madazhell says:

    Sheesh –

     

    And it's not even April Fools Day.

     

    Just think Big Brother is watching this goat rope of a show Mac is putting on.

  10. Anonymous says:

    OMG Eric have you been away on the moon? Why would you do this? Give the people of this country an answer

    • Anonymous says:

      They all need a reality check.  Positions for the selected few.  It is time for a sweep throughout the CSA.

  11. Anonymous says:

    What the heck does a computer specialist know about security and public safety.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Pay CS a 10% incentive bonus.

    Introduce an incentive system whereby any department realizing a savings under budget is awarded 10% of the amount saved to be distributed to everyone in that department as a bonus payment on a pro-rata basis. Next year's budget would be adjusted accordingly. The CS bosses would be scrambling to save anywhere possible, as soon as possible since big savings would be easy pickings in the current bloated CS.

  13. Eff Cee Oh says:

    I'm watching…

  14. Anonymous says:

    Can someone send this link to the FCO to show how e budget is a work of fiction?

  15. Anonymous says:

    Congrats uncle wes!

  16. Anonymous says:

    How can an island of this size and population really end up requiring these positions in Government? Are these positions REALLY needed? If so, why?

    What is missing in all this, is a real fundamental review of CS and Government to see what can be done more effeciently, what really needs to be done, and what can be dropped. Why has this not yet been done? URGENTLY?

    • Anonymous says:

      Very good question! There will never be a fundamental review of the civil service because the department heads of the civil sevice will block it. Plus, there is no political will to do it because politicians will lose votes if they initiate a review of inefficiency within the civil service. Pitiful but true so sorry to say.

    • Anonymous says:

      Another joke department – The Petroleum Inspectorate.  Another waste.

  17. Truth Hurts says:

    More (expensive) chiefs with maybe a couple of hours work a day to do?

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly! So they can run their own businesses from the Government Administration Building with no overhead.  Unfair competition for legitimate businesses!

  18. SKEPTICAL says:

    Didn’t bush categorically state that absolutely no more new Civil Service posts would be filled, even those where applications were already being processed. Is there a a special rule for Eric Bush’s office ?

  19. Anonymous says:

    The escaped the hiring freeze because the hiring freeze was never more than a headline. Make no mistake, the only way the public sector spending party is ever going to stop is if the UK makes it stop.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Are there not civil servants who were "sent home" by Mr. Bush when he came to power, who have received salaries even thought they haven't done a single day's work during his period of office as Premier? 

  21. Anonymous says:

    hiring freeze my #ss…………

    the civil service will be the death of the cayman islands….

    create a cross party committee responsible forimplementing the neccessary cuts to the civli service!