Rivers returns to work following courtroom drama
(CNS): The education minister was back to work Monday, as she returned her attention to issues regarding education and employment after three days in the Grand Court fighting to keep her West Bay seat. With the courtroom drama in limbo until the chief justice delivers his decision,Tara Rivers will be focusing on the issues facing her ministry, which include rising unemployment among Caymanians and the myriad problems still impacting local schools. Hopeful of a positive result, Rivers recently visited the Department of Education Services (DES) to meet with staff. She was accompanied by backbench MLA Winston Connolly, who has been given the role as councilor in her ministry.
During the visit she met with Chief Education Officer Shirley Wahler to discuss the role of the department and went on a tour to meet departmental staff.
“It’s important that councillor Connolly and I meet with the departments that fall under the ministry, to understand their responsibilities, workings and issues they face so that we can all work together to improve the services provided to the public,” Rivers said, adding that she looked forward to further departmental meetings in the future.
“I now have a better understanding of what occurs at the DES and how it interacts with the ministry,” said Connolly. “I look forward to working with the chief education officer and her team throughout the next four years.”
With Rivers' continuation in office still very much in question, government officials said that the minister would nevertheless be continuing with familiarization visits, including the Cayman Islands Public Library Service, the Sunrise Adult Training Centre and UCCI.
Category: Politics
Minister Rivers and entourage please remember the Sister Islands your responsibilities are not only to your departments in Grand Cayman. Minister Ozzy has already visited his departments in the Sister Islands you need to come here too and not 12 months into your "reign".
You Brackers have Moze and JuJu looking after everything for you so be grateful, for once stop complaining.
If she loses will her salary be repayable? It should be.
This is an excellent start and I hope and pray that Ms. Rivers is successful in the court case allowing her and Mr. Connolly to continue the work they have begun to the benefit of these islands.
What have they done so far?
What a waste of time!
I have a BETTER use of your time that would actually impact the unemployment rate! How about you sit in on 2 weeks of Immigration work permit approvals (rubber-stamping) and another 2 weeks at the Civil Service HR departments while expat contracts are renewed?
1,900 unemployed Caymanians at the end of 2012 in the local labour force, with a 10.5% unemployment rate among local people. However, as of 31 March, more than 20,400 work permits had been granted.
On the job training is needed so enforce the hiring of locals! There are plenty of hard working Caymanians looking for work, but work permit renewals kill every chance. Vocational training? Management training? Both can be learned on the job.
You have a chance to make a difference.
I never hear about a North American or UK person being rolled over or forced to look for a job? Nope, welcome to Cayman….employment guarantee for 10 years while our own locals (with degrees and experience) are ignored. Are you telling me that every time a work permit is renewed (year after year after year) a Caymanian did not apply? Hogwash. Tried applied and ignored- business as usual.
Tara and Winston…. Please stop touring and kissing babies, the election is over. Time to roll up your sleeves and tell us about what ACTIONS you did last week? How many people did you help to find work?