Government mandates must be implemented
Despite a number of failed attempts to reorganize and downsize the Cayman Islands public sector, Cayman’s top civil servant has insisted that government managers must lead the latest effort, spurred on by a 240-page consultant’s report from “big four” accounting firm Ernst & Young.
Among the firm’s recommendations are proposals that would outsource hundreds of jobs and eliminate entire government agencies. None has yet been accepted by Cabinet, but once lawmakers agree, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said it would be up to civil servants to carry out those wishes.
“It can only be civil servants that do this, and I’m very, very confident [the accepted changes are] going to happen,” Mr. Manderson said. “I don’t know who else could do it.
“[The civil service] has to carry out the government’s mandate, whether we agree with it or not.”
Former Education Ministry chief officer Mary Rodrigues will direct the implementation of the EY recommendations. Mrs. Rodrigues has vacated her position to work full time on the restructuring effort.
Individual chief officers will still be responsible for putting in place recommendations specific to their ministries or portfolios.
“Will it be difficult? Yes,” Mr. Manderson said. “It will take some time. Individual chief officers will have the responsibility to carry out the recommendations.”
For instance, the deputy governor said that if a recommendation was made that affected the area of waste management, the chief officer directly responsible for that area of the ministry would implement it as best he could.
Mrs. Rodrigues would step in “and alert the premier” if roadblocks were placed in the way of implementation by civil servants.
In the weeks leading up to the release of the EY report, Mr. Manderson said some civil servants had contacted him with concerns about their jobs.
“Both the elected government and I care about that, and we are going to do everything we can to ensure they are treated fairly,” Mr. Manderson said. “We are not into the business of just cutting people out of the door tomorrow.”
While a number of government agencies were slated to lose dozens or even hundreds of jobs in the restructuring, not all or even most of those positions were to be eliminated entirely.
One recommendation proposed that more than 200 jobs should be outsourced to private sector companies that might sign one- to three-year contracts with former government workers to ensure their position is protected in the medium term.
Other recommendations also back the implementation of a performance-based pay system for civil servants who exceed job requirements, as well as the creation of a management system that allows “consequences” for public sector workers who don’t perform well.
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