I waited to see what reaction, if any, there would be to Capt. Kennedy leaving Cayman Airways to take a job in Seattle, Washington with the Boeing Corporation.
As I didn’t see any letters to the press I am asking you to print these observations, which many will see as a prejudiced reaction, to which I plead guilty.
It should be pointed out that most well-run corporations that have experienced, well-qualified, dependable, loyal employees, will do all in their power to see that all working conditions are such that the employee will want to stay with the company.
Good managers praise their employees for good performance and try to keep staff morale high. Those persons in charge of the national airline obviously lacked effective managerial skills and good judgment.
The Boeing Corporation immediately recognized that Kennedy would be an asset to their company and gladly employed him.
Asked about his decision, he stated that he had mixed emotions about leaving his homeland, his family – especially his aged mother – friends, and the airline where he worked for 27 years as a devoted employee, in many capacities, who had the company’s welfare at heart at all times.
That is quite understandable. He was the youngest pilot in CAL’s history and I always felt particularly at ease when he was at the controls – as I do with other good CAL pilots. He assured his father who worried about him in his early years as a pilot that he always put safety first.
It seems a contradiction when the government says its goal is to have Caymanians as employees and at the same time make it difficult for them to stay.
This also sends a mixed message to young people who might be thinking of a career in government.
Small wonder that whenever I ask civil servants how things are going the usual reply is ‘things have changed since you were there Mr. Panton, (1977-89) and I can hardly wait to retire.’
Why is staff morale so low and what is being done to improve it? Surely this case will add to the fear of victimization and intimidation that already exists in the service and the desire to get out as soon as possible, either by retiring, or getting a job in the private sector.
I fear it will get worse since the impartial Public Service Commission no longer exists to protect them.
I think Kennedy’s decision to leave is in his best interest.
He did not leave without clearing his name and by his decision he has risen above the petty politics, lies, and jealousies that led to his decision, and it may well be that those responsible will be consigned to the trash heap of history in the near future.
I am sure he hopes that the national airline will prosper under good management and other employees will not be subjected to such totalitarian tactics as he endured.
Mark A Panton
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