Walton to stay on the job

Joel Walton, CEO of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands

(CNS) Updated Tuesday 11:15am: Joel Walton, the CEO of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands, has not been placed on required leave, despite facing criminal charges in the courts for an alleged violent assault on a woman. Walton appeared in Summary Court Tuesday morning, represented by Charles Clifford, and was bailed until the 5 May after the court agreed to lift the existing bail conditions, which had prevented Walton contacting his victim and residing at is home.

As a result of a decision by the MACI board that the shipping registry boss can stay in his post, Walton will now be back at home and work. In a short statement released Monday afternoon, the board said it was aware of the charges against Walton but, having taken legal advice, he could continue working.

“MACI considers it inappropriate to comment on those charges or the alleged circumstances leading to the charges, as the matter is sub judice,” the statement read. “The Board of MACI is satisfied that, having obtained independent legal advice, Mr Walton should continue at this time in his role as CEO.”

Wayne Panton, the financial services minister whose portfolio covers MACI and the shipping registry, also released a statement making it clear the decision was down to the board. Panton stated that the directors had informed him on Friday that they had decided not to suspend Walton from his post until the resolution of the criminal case against him.

“This decision is within the exclusive remit of the Board of MACI in accordance with the Maritime Authority Law, and I am advised that it has been taken with the benefit of appropriate legal advice as to the options available to the Board,” Panton said in the short statement. “I wish the Board well in guiding MACI through these challenging circumstances, in order to minimise any impact on the authority’s services to the public.”

The decision is likely to be greeted with some public outrage in light of recent events relating to suspensions of staff in government jobs. Although Walton is not a civil servant, he holds a public sector post in an authority where the only shareholder is government.

Kenneth Bryan, the former political assistant to the premier, is also facing criminal charges regarding an alleged verbal altercation with a police officer outside a nightclub. Even though there was no violence involved and a trial scheduled for August, Bryan, who held a political appointment, was sacked by the premier just over one week ago after being on suspension since December.

Meanwhile, a number of civil servants in a variety of jobs from the public works department to immigration are on required leave as a result of internal government probes and criminal charges. However, there are several others, including police officers, who, despite facing criminal charges or being subject to internal probes, are still behind a desk.

The latest announcement about Walton is likely to fuel more concerns over the ongoing inconsistencies in how civil servants and other public office holders are being treated. Chief Immigration Officer Linda Evans remains on required leave over what is now understood to be an internal investigation into her conduct, and the head of enforcement at that department, Garfield Wong, remains on the job while face charges of drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

One police inspector remains on the job while an investigation into why he had a gun at the airport continues, and two officers charged with assault and using excessive force during an arrest when they shot a Taser at a suspect also remain on desk duty. But a number of other police officers, immigration staff and fire personnel are all on required leave in connection with other offences.

Walton is facing allegations of assault causing ABH, insulting the modesty of a woman and causing fear of violence, in what is believed to be an alleged domestic incident. During his second appearance in the dock Tuesday, Walton asked for and was granted a bail variation. The court heard that the complainant did not object to the lifting of the no contact order and for Walton to return home, where he is understood to have previously resided with his victim.