New rules have been issued to all public servants to guide their actions and decision-making processes in the run-up to elections, Deputy Governor and Head of the Civil Service Franz Manderson has announced.
The new rules provide all civil servants with guidance on carrying out their duties over the Period of Election Sensitivity (PoES,) which begins at the time that Parliament is dissolved, and lasts until a new Government is sworn in (approximately 2 months).
It follows an Auditor General report that looked into the work undertaken by the former Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, to set up three Cayman Islands overseas offices last year.
That report, dated November 2021, flagged contractual agreements for the offices, and financial commitments that went along with it, as contrary to the law, since it all happened shortly before and after the 2021 elections and without the sufficient budget provision and parliamentary approval to do so.
An internal investigation by Deputy Governor Manderson, in response to the audit report later found no breaches occurred, because the money was ultimately not spent or needed.
The Deputy Governor’s circular addresses issues of public expenditure, the making of public policy, public appointments and public announcements during a PoES, the statement said.
Rules agreed and approved by Cabinet
Though there are existing personnel guidelines and recommendations regarding civil servants, Statutory Authorities, and Government Companies’ (SAGCs) participation in the electoral process, which have been in place for prior electoral periods, those “focused largely” on public servants’ private activities, the statement said.
The new guidelines specifically speak to actions by public servants in the conduct of their professional duties prior to elections.
The statement said the guidance has been “mutually agreed by the elected and administrative arms of Government”.
It said it works in tandem with Cabinet’s own guidance to Cabinet Ministers and other official Members, found in the Cabinet Manual issued in July.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to good governance and transparency, as a Government, we are always working to improve our procedures and promote the best practices. This includes the new election sensitivity guidance, which serves as a vital addition to the Cabinet Manual, and outlines the standards of behaviour which Cabinet members are expected to abide by,” said Premier Wayne Panton said in the statement as he welcomed the new formal guidance.
He said the formalised guidance underscores the requirement for particular care and discretion to be taken by all public servants in the period of election sensitivity.
Manderson, through the statement, thanked colleagues for their compliance with past guidance on conduct during a PoES, and expressed confidence that this new guidance will be similarly well-supported.
“We appreciate the support of all public servants to continue to conduct the core business of Government during a Period of Election Sensitivity, whilst striving to ensure that their actions do not unduly fetter the discretion of any new Government, or influence the outcome of the democratic process, in accordance with our shared values of professionalism, integrity, and passion, as a World Class Civil Service,” he said.
Manderson also expressed his gratitude to the Cabinet for their support of the guidance.
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