Eric Bush is set to take over the reins as chief officer of the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure starting 7 June, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has announced.
Bush, who is currently the CO for the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development, which is led by Minister André Ebanks, replaces Alan Jones, who retired as chief officer last July after a career of 31 years of service.
Bush’s shift in ministries follows an Auditor General report, which found financial and legislative irregularities in planned funding for Cayman’s overseas offices and the Dubai World Expo – which fell under Bush’s remit at the time, as the chief officer for the Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs.
However, Manderson, following an internal investigation instigated after that report, found that no breaches had occurred because the money was ultimately not spent or needed.
Tamara Ebanks will take over as acting chief officer in the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development.
Manderson said that chief officers are tasked with delivering “strategic outcomes that progress the business of government in the most effective and responsible ways”.
He pointed out that the Investment, Innovation and Social Development ministry staff registered some of the highest scores on the 2020 and 2021 civil service engagement survey and that those numbers “reflect how Mr. Bush’s distinctive attributes of strategic thinking, leadership capability and a commitment to empowerment translate into management of staff and delivery of outcomes”.
“While the world around us changes, the Civil Service must continue to be dynamic and innovative to fulfill the vision of our elected leaders. I am honored to continue to serve the people of the Cayman Islands, in a new capacity as Chief Officer of the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure,” Bush said through the statement.
The Ministry of PAHI manages government’s road infrastructure projects, investment in technical vocational education training/apprenticeship programme and the submarine cable (sub-sea) projects, “all of which will benefit from the strategic guidance from Chief Officer Bush as a senior leader”.
Tamara Ebanks will take over Bush’s vacated role. She had been seconded to the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development from her post as deputy chief officer within PAHI and will continue to advance some of the key projects initiated under Bush’s tenure which commenced in 2019, Manderson said in the statement.
He also thanked deputy chief officers Tristan Hydes and Leyda Nicholson-Makasare, who have led the planning ministry since July 2021.
Since joining the Civil Service March 1999 Bush has served in several leadership capacities including as the chief officer of the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs and the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development.
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