AG’s lawyers moonlighting

| 16/04/2014

(CNS): A freedom of information request regarding the secondary employment of civil servants has revealed that even government lawyers are engaged in work outside of their public service duties. According to the partial results of an FOI request by a CNS reader seeking the numbers of civil servants currently moonlighting and the types of jobs they do has revealed that four people working in the Attorney General’s Chambers have outside work, including practicing law. Although the request has not revealed the civil service posts held by the public employees in the government top lawyer's office with second jobs and businesses the response reveals that at least one must be a practicing government attorney.

Although the request is seeking a much bigger picture regarding the controversial topic of civil servants who run businesses and hold second jobs, the results from the attorney general alone show that four people in that department have been given permission to engage in other work and private businesses that could bring them into conflict with the job they are paid to do by the public purse.

One staff member of the Chambers is understood to have set up an auto-mechanic shop and another is running a security company. A third is believed to have created a legal database, the details of which were not revealed but it clearly has the potential to cause a conflict. Lastly, the one which may now raise significant questions, is that a government lawyer has been given permission to practice law privately as well.

The results shown to CNS are likely to be the tip of the iceberg as the full request is seeking answers from all government departments on the numbers and types of work civil servants are undertaking, theoretically out of hours. It also demonstrates that revelations of more details are likely to expose conflicts once civil servants are required to comply with the new standards in public life legislation showing their outside interests.

It is still not clear when the law will be implemented but expectations had been that politicians and senior government workers will be required to complete the new register by 30 June this year.

But so far the much heralded law has not been implemented, and despite claims by government that it is imminent, no date has been given for the legislative change which could shine the brightest light to date on the long held concerns in the community that many public sector workers are in serious conflict as a result of their moonlighting.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    You want to solve the mythical "local unemployment problem"?  The stop full time civil servants doing other work.

    • Anonymous says:

      Self-contradiction. If it is "mythical" then one need do nothing at all and it certainly wouldn't be solved by freeing up jobs. The trouble is that people like you live in your ivory towers and have no idea what the real world is in Cayman for the majority of people.

      • Anonymous says:

        I worked hard to be in an ivory tower.  The view is great from here. 

  2. Anonymous says:

    Everyone including the press are so quick to run with this half baked story. There is no evidence that three of persons with the “second job” are attorneys and that they are engaged actively in the jobs. A person can own a business without being any part of its daily administration. Was Kurt Tibbetts years ago working at Hampstead or at the printery? You all have too much time on your hands like the haters on Rooster. Get a damn life and keep your hate to yourselves.

  3. Anonymous says:

    The classic case of public sector "daylighting" in case it's been forgotten, was the bunch of firemen engaged in commercial property repairs after Hurricane Ivan. Incredibly they were using a fire engine to  support their business efforts!!.

    • Anonymous says:

      Re moonlighting firemen, accompanied by fire truck.mmmmm isnt that a better idea than having them sitting all day waiting for something to happen. Cayman could learn from this, volunteer firemen, fully trained, working in other jobs but ready when needed. 

  4. Anonymous says:

    To poster 19:13 "It used to be". Exactly it used to be that they would do this extra work on their time and not the government time. What is happening now is that they "especially the big wig head of departments" come in late to work each morning after going to their personal offices to do a few hours work, then put in a few hours at their government desks or out and about at all manner of conferences networking for their personal businesses making contacts and then leave each day early. Furthermore they also get their private clients to deliver paperwork to their government office and have their government receptionist collect and deliver this to and from them. Corruption at the highest degree.

    • Anonymous says:

      Following on post at 16:58 I saw an ad from a civil servant for notary public services in the government office!!  Perhaps Ok if he pays in the fee for service to his employer.

  5. Anonymous says:

    If they were part time employees fine. But these are ostensiblyfull time employees on full government benefits (health, pensions etc). It follows that they should be devoting their full time and attention to their government positions.

    Jim Bodden started the move to better remuneration for civil servants. I very much doubt he intended they should receive private sector level remuneration and benefits while working for themselves.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Civil servants working a 2nd job or owning a business is only a problem when a) There is a clear conflict of interest and b) When the 2nd job or business takes away from their productivity on the job. As a Caymanian single mother with 3 children working at a professional level in a Govt body and receiving no child support, I cannot survive on my salary alone. I have marketable skills, so when I can, I take on free lance jobs to supplement my income. I schedule meetings on my lunch hour or on weekends, and I work in the evenings and on weekends. This extra work in no way takes away from my full-time job. And the additional income helps to feed, clothe, and educate my children. I also take great care to work only for clients who do not present a potential conflict of interest with my place of employment. And I have made full disclosure of all paid and volunteer work that I do outside of my job. Would the people saying that Govt employees should not take on part-time work rather that I seek assisance from Social Services to pay my bils? I thought not.  

    • Anonymous says:

      12;16

       

      We dont have a problem with you working extra hours, this does not  impact small businesses.

      What harms us is Public servants owning competitive businesses with the private sector.

      They are in a position to make deals and secure contracts where we cant. You heard of "who you know"!

      Most  of the public servants competing with the private sector, are not getting the contract  opportunites that the Public servants achive . This is due to their direct contact with the consumers and populance. Especilaly being in the right places.

  7. Anonymous says:

    I sent an email last week  to  2  immigration employees after 4 days they had yet to respond. So I sent it again this week and they still have yet to respond.

    How Sad

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Tell me about it

      • Anonymous says:

        These guys are the most corrupted officers on this Island. They are running a hell of a racket!

        The results are destroying the small businesses.

    • Anonymous says:

      Those two immigration are behind the racket going on.

      I asked the immigration enforcement to visit a job site, where this man, which was on a work permit , was contracting exterior finishes on  many homes. They gave me the run around that they were out of town checking on other issues. They never did checked the wrong doing.

      When last have we seen a bust on any construction sites?

      The permit holders are taking contracts to build buildings on these Islands. The cayman builders, with up to 40 years experience are not even asked to tender on these project.

      It's a complete take over by certain nationals that are building these homes for 1980 prices.

      With the assistance of certain loan officers that infiltrated the banking system.

      The home owners are having a field day. They acquire a loan which is approved by the loan officers, at the prescribed rates of the  banks.

      The banks pay the home owners the money, they seek out  these iligal  jerks to build their homes for 60% of the money issued by the bank.

      Then they buy a car and take long vacations.

      Guess what? most of them get what they bargain for. When it all goes wrong,  they come running to the same Caymanian builders to correct the mess these fly-by-night- work permit builders give them.  Then they have the audacity to say caymanian builders are too expensive. Something has to be done.

  8. Anonymous says:

    What about the immigration officers who moonlight as 'immigration advisors' and help anyone who pays them to get work permits? That's been going on for years but it never made headlines.

    • Anonymous says:

      Don't forget the higher ups in the Labour Office who advise employers on how to write contracts and employee manuals and conduct classes to that effect.

      • Anonymous says:

        Perhaps the labour officer has full permission to continue the private work.the question is,  Is their a potential conflict?

  9. Anonymous says:

    This is  just as bad or worst, i see the deputy chief officer from the ministry of home affairs on citn news promoting there business when they should be in work all this need to checked out.

  10. Anonymous says:

    This has been going on for ever in just about every government department and explains why almost every time you call you get voice mail and even if you leave a message, it is not returned.  It is human nature to give priority to your own business so if someone from the auto mechanic shop calls you can bet the phone will be answered immediately. This is largely why civil servants have such a low level of productivity, and don't bother complaining to the head of the department, as he is moonlighting as well.

  11. Anonymous says:

    "…theoretically out of hours…"

     

    Hmmmmmmm, sounds like the old "theory versus practice" argument.

     

    Can we confiscate their government computers and inspect their hard drives and personal emails? It might make for interesting reading, especially the time stamps on the files and personal emails.

    • Anonymous says:

      I predict they would find a mountain of unethical use of company time…. and nothing would ever be done about it. Gasboygasboygasboy

  12. Anonymous says:

    It used to be that when a person held down two jobs to try and feed their family, society would admire such a person as hard working and willing to go the extra mile to make an honest living. Now people are commenting about other people having a second job as if it is a capital crime.

    There are people within the Civil Service making as little as $2,000 per month, more than 3/4 of the service is Caymanian, they live in the same community and have to pay the same CUC bill, gasoline prices and grocery prices as everyone else. They also help to pay the same taxes that pay their own salaries.

    Robberies and burglaries are increasing because many people would rather pick up a gun or attack a defenseless woman to steal her purse instead of work two jobs.

    When did our society sink so low and become so bigoted that even honest work is now being attacked because it is a Civil Servant who is doing it? Folks, we need to get our priorities straight, this country has many problems, we import people to fill over 20,000 jobs, if every civil servant worked two jobs, we still would have to import additional people to fill some of the positions within the workforce.

    As long as they are giving the Government an honest day's work for an honest day's pay and not using their Government position to gain an advantage in a second job, who cares what these people do in their free time? they may be called servants but that doesnot make them slaves. Some of you all need to get a life and move on.

    • Anonymous says:

      "…giving the Government an honest day's work…"

       

      I do not object to moonlighting, in fact I admire it.

       

      The problem here is that many of the moonlighters are doing only one job while being paid for two. There is nothing "honest" in that.

    • Anonymous says:

      And there, in your last paragraph, you hit the nail squarely on the head. The problem is that there is a perception that these second jobs are not being done after their government day is over, but during their government paid working day.  This is stealing from you and me who are the people who fund government and pay them to do their CS work first. There are plenty of examples to suggest that the perception  is fact.

    • Anonymous says:

      I don't think any of the people mentioned in this article is making $2000 or less…

    • Anonymous says:

      The problem with moonlighting in the Legal Dept., is they are expats, who were hired to do a specific job, within specific salary scale.  When they were recruited I am positive they knew what the salary was.  They come here, see the opportunity and flip over.  Those positions should be contract only. At the end of the contract, exit, but the contracts are constantly renewed or extended and then we have new Caymanians.  Stop bending the rules for those who we will never know.

      Our people are suffering because of poor management in government.  We need to take Page from some of the countries across the globe, who take things in their own hands.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with 19:13

      The sad thing here is, it is our very own Caymanians who are posting these comments. This is so rediculous that they would do so and got the nerve to talk about we need to reunite. Mindless comments like these are the same very things that causes us to become divided.

      Your very own civil servants will read these comments over the weekend/holidays and i could only imagine what thoughts will come to mind when they know some of very own "Caymanians" made these.

      Its so sad that Hurrican Ivan came through here and caused so much destruction and we as a community pulled togehter and assisted each other. He probably needs to return for people just like you!

      You people are heartless!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Anonymous says:

        Listen we are not against one making up a few dollars by  moonlightng.

        Its the ones that are running their own business on Governments time. The ones with direct contact and influence to pull the opportunities from the well established businesses.

        So dont try to make this look like we are dividing our people.

        You want to see division, look at all the small businesses closing doors because of this practice.

        We dont have a secured monthly salary, pension and health insurance taken care of. We have to struggle to put food on our tables. This is totally wrong!

        • Anonymous says:

          Those people aren't the ones at the bottom, start from the top. Really though we all need to find an alternate income. I am considering it, to survive Caymans extremely demanding high cost of living. I'd like to be in a position where I can make more.  Don't you? 

  13. The Thinker says:

    I feel the civil service workers taking second jobs are taking jobs and wages from people that need work.  I think most of us feel that government workers who have other "jobs" do not have time or make the effort to really do either job efficiently.  It really grates me to see government personell doing little and getting fat paychecks.  I guess a lot of it is the old buddy system and nepotism!  Will it ever change?  Don't hold your breath.

    • Anonymous says:

      What about the legal secretaries, who are holding down waitress or bar maid jobs?  

      • Anonymous says:

        What about secretaries moonlighting as waitress etc? Yes? Is that a problem for you?

  14. Anonymous says:

    If they work for the people they are prosecuting then it might save us some money on legal aid.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Obviously if a government lawyer is allowed to practice law outside of his government responsibilities this will inevitably create a number of conflicts for him or her and should for that reason alone not be allowed. When there is a conflict in such a case where does that lawyer's loyalty rest ? Who is he/she loyal to – Government or his client first ????

  16. Anonymous says:

    CNS instead of casting aspersions how about spelling out exactly why you think a particular activity is, or could be, a conflict of interest? Because frankly I'm not seeing it. I'm also disgusted by this witch hunt of Civil Servants. Who cares if they want to work a second job? Who cares if they take theskills they have and use them on a second job? What I do on my on time is no bussiess of my boss why would what they do be any different? 

    • Anonymous says:

      I'm sure the issue being inferred is that not all of the 'extra' work is being done outside of regular office hours, again inferring that not all Civil Servants are fully engaged in their 'regular' jobs.  The reason your boss gets to know if you are working a second job is so that they can be aware of any conflicts with your day job, that should be pretty obvious, the less obvious is if your performance drops off because of the additional responsibilites taken on.

      Unless you can honestly say that those with a second job aren't working that job at the same time as their day job then there's a problem. 

  17. Anonymous says:

    There are 24 hours in the day. What is wrong with people wanting to work more than 8 hours a day, 8 for their employer and some for themselves. Stop being so jealous and petty.

    • Uncivil Servant says:

      There is nothing wrong with working two jobs, at different times. There is plenty wrong with working a side job during the hours of your primary job, which is what is taking place in at least 80% of the cases mentioned here, guaranteed.

    • Anonymous says:

      11.25- it has to be controlled as there could and seem to be conflicts of interest, which may affect the main work, which is just not on. Most employment contracts these days preclude you from working in other jobs, particularly in the finance and law sectors..and there is a very good reason for that. Plus, working more hours (or skiving from your real job to do so) is not productive in that you are either stealing time from the main employer or making yourself too tired to do your real job properly. Your comment is very naive.

    • Anonymous says:

      11:25, when your moonlighting affects your main form of employment, it becomes a problem you muppet.

      The last 3 years of court cases and the judgments given should be a clear indication of that.

    • UHUHUH says:

      These lawyers who are on the people's payroll should never be working outside that capacity!  I can even accept some of them having a business but that business should not be a service oriented business. The reason being that it leaves the door open for some kind of "conflict of interest".

      I suggest that a law be put in place immediately to stop all Government employees who want to open any kind of business or who at present owns a business of any kind or who may hold another jobin private sector, be brought before a tribunal made up of private citizens who will have written laws to guide them in making decisions as to whether or not the application by any civil servant should or should not be granted based on "that law".

      Corruption is no longer the odd incident which may occur now and again, but it has now become so rampant in this our beloved Island, that it has now become accepted as the norm in our society!  

      I say to all you corrupt individuals throughout this Island, The Good Lord Will [based on biblical prophecy]  Make His Presence Known On [JULY 1st  2014]

    • Anonymous says:

      perhaps this will help you, would you expect a lawyer working full time at a law firm to be moonlighting and working for another firm in the evenings or running his own firm on the side?  It doesnt work that way.  They have obligations to the employer and to the clients and work as is necessary to meet those professional obligations.  The lawyers in the AG's office are desperately needed by Govt and by the various boards to guide them and provide opinions and to attend court from time to time. They dont have time to moonlight

    • Anonymous says:

      16hrs a day? Me thinks not!

    • Diogenes says:

      The problem is that they may be overlapping the two – charging CIG for the 8 hours whilst spending at least part of that time doing the other job for their own benefit, and using CIGs resources to do so.  What – you think that the four people mentioned only do their private work at weekends and before 0830 in the morning and after 5 ? I have a bridge in the desert to sell you.  And that.s before you get into the whole area of whether they are using their position in government to advance their private business.  

      • Anonymous says:

        It's called stealing in any language! Totally wrong. let the private businesses prosper…please!

    • Chris Johnson says:

      I completely agree with you. Why should people whether they be civil servants or not be denied a second job. Since I arrived in 1968 many Caymanians and others who worked for my firm had a second job which I encouraged provided it did not preclude them from doing a full days work at my firm. This enabled them to have a better life in providing for their families and enhancing their lifestyles. Certainly when worked in the UK I almost always had two jobs and on certain occasions three. Hard work should never be denied a dedicated worker. No doubt I will almost certainly receive thumbs down but a sensible argument would be preferable.

      • Anonymous says:

        I think it depends on the whether the work creates a conflict of interest, hampers productivty and is at mid-upper management level.

         

        Also, the article was referring to professionals, i.e. attorneys who are being to enforce our laws and assist all otehr departments. The article also refers to employees owning businesses so can you imagine that they never have to deal with any issue during normal working hours?

        So, yes I agree employees maybe given an option but consideration for level of customer service to us must be paramount.

        We hear complaints all the time about service of CIG employees and costs of labour and low productivity (including legal matters as attorneys are being discussed here) so unless we realise that WE teh people are paying for these people andconstantly being asked to hire more without even seeing the benefit of who we have hired now, we'll continue to get employees who care about making as much money as possible while having the securty of a CIG job and most know that to keep your job you just show up everyday, lack of performance is never addressed. When was the last time you heard of workers not having a contract renewed because of lack of performance and remember there are only about TWO Caymanian attorneys, so we have contracted workers or status holders taking full advantage of a department controlled by other status hodlers.

      • Anonymous says:

        If your worker had a second job at a rival/competing company to yours. Mr Johnson, even if he did a full day's work at yours, would you be ok with that?

        • Anonymous says:

          Please not not insult Mr Johnson with pathetic remarks. Get a job or,two perhaps.

          • Hancock says:

            I have to give it to Mr Johnson he always has the balls to speak his mind and signs his name. Mr Anonymous i am glad that at least you support him. It is really sad that so many Caymanians do not use their name. What do they fear, Bush has long gone.

          • Anonymous says:

            Why don't you let Mr Johnson speak for himself if he wants to? He's clearly a lot smarter than you, bobo.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes Mr. Johnson, employees should not be denied the opportunity to hold a second job providing the following: (I refer to CIG employees)…They do so outside CIG normal work hours; it is not a conflict of interest and they gain written permission per reuglations as required by CIG Ministry in which their department fall under.

        This is not always, in fact NOT mostly the case, for any of the above. I am a hardworking competent honest CIG worker and many others are too. We see this happen day in and out, and have for many years. When you say anything to your supervisor, it  falls on deaf ears depending on who it is.  Or your supervisor taking it higher and they get stuck…as their supervisor turn a deaf ear.

        90 pecent of the times, it is always one of your higher ups pets, family member or a friend.  Or friends off spring, or simply a person from the same district…the list goes on and on….seriously. Worst case is when they (the higher up) cannot do anything, because they are doing the same themselves, and the employee/s cheating  that you are trying to report are aware and holding them hostage! Real mess!

        This is so wrong when other honest, realible employees  more than pull more than their weight and cover these slacker butts!! Far worst for the ones holding a second job because they really need to make ends meet, and are doing so ON THEIR OWN TIME, and other cheaters… are doing so ON CIG TIME!

        Serious measures needs to be put in place and they keep saying they are in place. These measures need to be enforced across the board. It should not matter the position, dishonest employees need to be held accountable and made to pay. I can tell you that this is not the case.  You reports are ignore over and over and never investigated, and if you persist often times you are thrown under the bus or ignored.  Next thing you…. the decent hard working employee is transfered and then gone. 

        Whistle Blowers need protection like yesterday…

    • Anonymous says:

      Please read the article carefully, and ask for help with comprehension if you are having difficulty with the term "conflict of interest"!

    • Anonymous says:

      Sounds good on paper. But my observation says they milk the system and moonlight on company time. That's what's wrong with it!

      • Anonymous says:

        Prove it. Name names. (Or at least jobs/posts/times.) Otherwise you're as bad as the rest.

        • Uncivil Servant says:

          Me thinks thou dost protest too much. Ill call your name if you don’t behave.

    • Young Man says:

      Why does this have so many downvotes? As if people don't have hopesand dreams. To live off of one salary alone is not a safe thing to do and if you have skills/expertise that you can charge people for, by all means get a business license and earn that extra income.

      Everyone who is against this must have the 'crabs in a bucket' mentality. You know.. the one that goes 'as long as my fellow man is not succeeding/doing better than me, I'm a-okay. Otherwise I'll plot against his efforts behind his back to ensure that he remains stagnant.' That mindset is backwards and foolish.

      If the business they are conducting on the outside is a conflict of interest and feeds directly off of their main job then sure, reprimand them as necessary. But if it has nothing to do with their main line of work then stop worrying about them and focus on trying to improve your own life, because that is what they are doing. Stop the hate, people.

      • Anonymous says:

        So that is why we recruit from overseas, so they can capitalize all the way to the bank.  

        • Young Man says:

          They can't do anything without a Caymanian partner. And why do you think this is a foreigner issue? I was strictly talking about Caymanians who have businesses outside of their employment.

          • Anonymous says:

            Cayman partners are there to keep caymans out. Its a method of keeping Caymanians down and they dont realise it.

             Caymanian   Partners must come up with 60% of the money. Most dont have any money or they wouldnt look for a partner.

            Its just a con game going on.  for bolth sides

            These cayman partners are for the most part  just fake partners

            . They are there to extort money from the investor and then do all they can to kick the investor  off the island.

            They usually tell immigration those outsiders come to my island and tell me what to do.

            File a complaint and the expat is removed.

            This has happened so many times

             

             

      • Anonymous says:

        23;04

        You sound like one of those out there competing with the proivate sectors.

        Talk about crab in the bucket mentality. We, the private business owners have hopes and dreams also. Difference is, we do not have the pleasure of having  our pension, health and vacation paid by tax payers hard earned money.

        We hate no one. You try giving up your CIG job and run that business on its own merit, and see how far you will get.

        We need to improve our lives also, but we cant get the opportunity to, because you are taking what's ours. Stick to your CIG job and let the private business prosper.

    • Anonymous says:

      I'm sure you would want somebody working for you 9-5 and during that time attending to his Security business as well…come on get a clue..do you think they are doing this when they get of work at night and before they come in in the morning??

  18. Michel says:

    Not surprised at all. Next those who are in charge of Departments please !

    • Make it mandatory says:

      We KNOW why the Departments are expat in middle management: So the CI bosses can run their other businesses without being reported!  

      I am so tired of applying to Govt as a third generation hard working Caymanian, UK University Grad with 6 years experience in my field in the USA  plus great references.  Sorry, all IT jobs paying 70k+ go to overseas applicants!!  Arrrggghhhhh? I still have student loans to pay off and am working on my MBA….. NWDA, get some teeth with mandatory postings and work with Govt hiring too!?!  

      • Anonymous says:

        Open your own business if you are all that

        • Make it mandatory says:

          Sure I will open my own business! Will you give me the small business loan? No? Oh, yes… You Need a JOB to get a loan! And with my student loan payments nearly done I am a really good credit risk- I would love to open my own business in a few years after working for a larger firm.  But as you know, most small businesses fail because they do not have enough financing.  So I take my CV which is as good if not better than an expats and watch as they eat my lunch as I struggle to feed my family?  Sorry, that is just wrong on all accounts.

          • Anonymous says:

            'Eating my lunch' – really? Your sense of entitlement is staggering. If you were worth employing, you'd be employed. Why would anyone pay an expat work permit if you were so shithot? 

            Your lunch only when you've earnt it my friend!

          • common sense says:

            If the cv is as good as you say, the job market is open to you anywhere in the world.

            Don't let the plane door hit you on the way out.

      • Anonymous says:

        Feel for you. but more and more of the HOD's and CO jobs are filled by people not originally from here too.

        And they are lookingout for their own.

  19. Anonymous says:

    I have lost the plot. What is exactly is wrong with civil servants working two jobs like other Caymanians?? Working in the civil service where you are paid at 2007 levels should not be a double punishment. I fail to see the conflicts mentioned in this article. The Deputy Governor has put in place a policy to Govern this activity. Please stop trying to keep Caymanians down!!

    • Anonymous says:

      So it turns out that it is Caymanians taking jobs from Caymanians!! Why can't you work one job like expats and leave the other job for those unemployed Caymanians. The myth is finally exposed!

    • Anonymous says:

      You want to ask the question why would they want to keep caymanians down! because they moonlighting! check out the Civil Servants that own and opperating businesses on the side.

      These people are taking bread away from legit businesses, some having to close doors.

      Most use their position and  influence to take jobs from long term small businesses. check planning, Immigration and firemen.

      Are they paying work permit, pension and health insurance? i dont think so.

      Franz needs to stop this immediately. We are being dragged into the courts because our business are failing due to the unfair competition. We dont have another salary to lean on.

       

    • Diogenes says:

      Wasnt the policy that they shouldnt do it?  If the wages in the civil service are so crappy, why don't they resign and follow their entrepreneurial instincts.  Andwho says they are Caymanians – isnt that rather a biased assumption? 

    • Anonymous says:

      If you voted for proper rulers who properly controlled a budget then there could be cash for pay rises for the deserving. In case you had not noticed there has been a worldwide recession where many lost their jobs, got pay cuts and very few got rises. What makes here any different 

  20. Anonymous says:

    I shouldn't really be surprised any more by the incredibly low standards of competency and commitment required by Cayman civil servants but this shocks me.

    In exchange for their generous salaries, pensions, free petrol, pensions, healthcare for the whole family etc etc etc these people are not even required to commit all of their work efforts to the CIG? It is astonishing to me. They can simply go into business for themselves on the side and keep all the profits.  I absolutely guarantee that their work for CIG would have to suffer as a result, and the potential for them to use their CIG positions to ensure government money flows into their side ventures is a temptation.

    Everytime someone lifts the lid on what goes on in government here I am astonished,  It's like they deliberately set it up so that government money can be siphoned off without any checks and balances.

    I am finally beginning to understand why a country this small struggles to get by on a budget of $600 million.

    • Anonymous says:

      You are correct, except we have to ask ourselves why we are not surprised that the AG doesnt have a problem with this.  Just about every government dept is reliant onthe attorneys in his office and in need of their assistance. Think about all of the statutory boards and the appeal boards that rely on them.  Oh well.  Another day in paradise.

    • Anonymous says:

      Which generous salaries?

      The pay is so low Caymanians are not interested in becoming a Government lawyer.

      • Fred the Piemaker says:

        The wages are relative.  If you don't have to do any work for CIG and can spend all your time pursuing your private business but using CIG phones, copiers, fuel and stationery to do it, sounds pretty good to me.  Like one of those start up support schemes governments offer entrepreneurs, but without any accountability.  Where do I sign up? 

    • Anonymous says:

      Franz, you have to stop this mess and let the legit businesses prosper. We all want to feed,  raise and educateour children.

      It was never like this when the older men ran this country. corruption, corruption!

    • Anonymous says:

      That 600 million is not just salares it is total operations.

      That amount is high not because civil servnts are highly paid but because there are so many of them.

      You want to reduce that number then get someone in the private sector to finance the running of the prison or the fire service or post office or weather service.

      All essential to life but make next to no money.  

    • And Another Ting says:

      I told ona so 3 2weeks ago and more to come.

  21. Naya Boy says:

    Government those in society not bound by law! It does explain however why and how some players have so much assets & wealth and its now very clear how they got them??? Too much 4 play & corruption going on in our government eh?

  22. Anonymous says:

    At least if a government lawyer is moonlighting at Burger King they might be doing one job well.

    • Fred the Piemaker says:

      Hey, its not just the lawyers.  Civil servants show a great talent at cooking the books – why shouldnt they be good at cooking burgers too! 

  23. Anonymous says:

    Well, well, well.  This is interesting.  How many in the legal department are CAYMANIANS?  This could only happen in the Cayman Islands. ROTFLMAO.

    Did the FOI request the staff list and nationalities?

    • Dear well well says:

      I would love to see an FOI of expats on permits in Govt (oh, that is right they do not require permit and after eight years get automatic status!!)

      no succession planning so if you are a local was a great college degree perfect references and experience you cannot break into government because the ex-pat doing your job makes his boss look good and his boss can run the second business!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      60 % of our workforce is on work permit.

      Of the other 40% – how many are from here?.

      I figure Caymanians are really only about 25% of workforce. shocking!

  24. Anonymous says:

    Now we know why there results are so poor.

    • Anonymous says:

      and your spelling perhaps?

      • Anonymous says:

        11:03, great comeback, are you replying to my post from the department in question, or your other job?

      • Anonymous says:

        and your spelling perhaps?   You should shut up with your spelling comment all the time.

        You should learn to Capitalise and not start sentances with the word AND

        Furthermore add something if you are going to comment.

         

      • Anonymous says:

        What is with you Spell Checkers? This is a Blog for people to post as they are.  

        If yu cant read wha people write and yu tink it ned be spell propa, boy yu ga some big surprise coming fo yu soon. Cha man. people cant even get up and read da news in dey panties and write how dey wan. Boy unna high rass smart donkeys.

        I nah saying we nah ga spell an learn propa like yu saying, but tell me sumting wha dis ga do with anyting? "and your spelling perhaps?" Bra, wha really yu wan say wid dat? eh bra?

        Maybe CNS will have to be told to only post items that are spell correct. Or Maybe you can get a job in another country telling the people how to speak or write in proper dialec?

        Geez poster Get a life, go check all your mistakes in life and stop showing off. In Cayman this is what we would consider an educated idiot. You fit the bill. Shut up please do not even respond. Too early for this. Cha man.

    • Anonymous says:

      You mixing up DPP and AG chambers again? AG Chambers doing pretty well winning civil cases….just they never get reported, only the sensationalist ones are….

      • Anonymous says:

        Do you know how wide the law is, and the difference between Public Law and Private Law?