Immigration boss remains on suspension
Linda Evans, Chief Immigration Officer
(CNS): It is now more than eight months since Linda Evans was placed on required leave from her post as the chief immigration officer as a result of allegations of misconduct. Although government officials have stated that there is no criminal investigation into Evans’ conduct, officials said Monday that an “administrative process” is still underway. The immigration boss was suspended from her job on full pay on 1 December 2014 but the authorities have said very little about their internal investigation or her future as the CIO.
Following enquiries by CNS regarding the status of the enquiry, Wesley Howell, the deputy chief officer in the home affairs ministry, which is responsible for immigration, said, “Ms Evans remains on required leave and an administrative process is progressing. I hope you will understand that I am unable to give details as the matter is still ongoing.”
The details of the allegations against Evans have not been revealed but it is understood to relate to the granting of Caymanian status and other internal immigration issues. At the time of the official announcement of Evans’ suspension in December she was placed on required leave on full pay under the provisions of the civil service personnel regulations, which the ministry said would allow the allegations to be investigated “quickly and thoroughly”.
Meanwhile, Kimberley Davis, the former boards director at the immigration department who was suspended on unrelated allegations, is now facing criminal charges in relation to a private company she owns. Davis is charged with making a false statement and unlawfully employing a person. She is alleged to have given false information to the immigration department that all health insurance premiums for all employees were paid up to date when officials claim it was not true, and employing a kitchen helper without the approval of immigration.
Category: Immigration
The lack of information and apparent slow crawl investigation gives rise to many queries, suppositions, allegations and yes falsehoods. We call on the CIG Cabinet and the Governor to make a statent and/or conclude this matter. We can’t allow this to continue after all the salary being paid comes from the people of this country.
Caymanian voters want to know.
Well the Premier did say on 04 December 2014 “I am satisfied that the appropriate action has been taken in each instance and expect that the investigations will be carried out thoroughly and efficiently”. He was referring to Davis and Evans.
Davis’ matter has gone to the Courts and Evans’ matter isn’t going there.
Sounds to me like it was decided that ‘they’ just needed Evans out of there. The question is who is ‘they’?
Considering how the Premier and the DG, Head of the Civil Service, are buddy-buddy and the fact that Immigration falls under the Premier’s Ministry of Home Affairs, I’m sure that this could have been concluded a long time ago if it wasn’t the case that they just wanted her out and one or both of them are part of the ‘they’.
Eight months + is a loooonnng time.
Translation: Believe it or not, Someone wanted to get rid of the CIO because she was actually doing her job so some unsubstantiated allegations were made. The Government didn’t want to look like they were hiding anything so they quickly put her on paid leave while they “investigated”. Fast forward a few months, they still can’t prove any of the allegations but the person still wants her gone BUT they can’t fire her so for now she will remain on paid leave until they can figure out what to do with her without getting sued. They have already tarnished her reputation with this “administrative process” so I hope she gets a tidy sum from them and her job back. Evil people!
This is so true! very sad indeed. She did her job and did it well and looks like what happened to her. The role is not an easy one and I am sad that this is happened to her.
That sounds entirely feasible here, would explain a lot of people remaining in other posts when they should be replaced…time to name names
Evil? They’re just office people acting like office people.
When those in powerful positions are unduly influenced and inclined to install mistresses and concubines for whatever reason it will inevitably lead to serious problems. One down two more to go????
So what happens when CIG does something wrong to someone and they try to get justice through the courts? Are they favored? Or are they shunned?
Get the edge of the rug picked up! Looks like another sweep-under case!!!
“in December she was placed on required leave on full pay under the provisions of the civil service personnel regulations, which the ministry said would allow the allegations to be investigated quickly and thoroughly”. What is “quickly”? This is August. How much have we paid her since then? For what? Hey, CIG…. That’s OUR money you’re giving away.
“Ms Evans remains on required leave and an administrative process is progressing” What process are we talking about?
Another question: Why can’t the “allegations” be revealed?
One last question: If (heaven forbid) charges are brought against her and she is guilty of (?), does she get to keep the people’s money? Surely if any charges are confirmed she shouldn’t be paid for not working. Taking it out of her retirement wouldn’t be a bad idea if for some unknown reason she wouldn’t/couldn’t repay it.
Why am I bothering to write this? Get that xxxxing rug ready!!!
Yes indeed Bigger Fish involved. This is what happens when you have “the dirt” on bigger fish and then they cant deal with you. Ha ha ha government corruption at its best.
This a blatant breach of ECHR Article 6.
That specifies – In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law.
Mind you, she’s on full salary and not having to work for it so probably couldn’t care less how long they take to resolve this.
money and getting paid is nothing against a black eye against your integrity when you have not done anything. So I would say she doe care and it is very unfortunate because even when she is proven innocent, others will still doubt her……
8:03 In which case if the allegations are, as is being suggested here, malicious she needs to get lawyered up and start fighting back.
the ineffecent civil service investigating itself………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“…which the ministry said would allow the allegations to be investigated “quickly and thoroughly”.”
Huh? “Quickly”????? You gotta be kidding.
In CIG there seems to be a continuous HR ethical conflict with the interpretation of part VII the Labour Law (2011) – “Termination for Cause/Misconduct”, the additional Standards of Conduct in Public Office, and reconciling to the Rule of Law in the Cayman Islands. From an HR perspective, these things seem to be perpetually out of sync with the private sector interpretation to the point where charlatans are retained on fully paid public payroll holidays for months/years and are emboldened to declare themselves “victorious” and/or “exonerated” if no criminal evidence or charges are brought by their inept managers. It reeks of corruption and rewards the all-too-common, “catch me if you can” ethos. This needs to change.
Does the Labour Law apply to civil servants? I thought they had their own regulations.
It’s a process CNS, relax!
Bigger fish involved that why you not hearing anymore. lol
I believe this too!
Smells, as usual, of something being swept under the carpet to fester and rot…why is there no openess on the allegations?
Lots of corruption in Immigration, I have experienced it personally and I presented everything to Linda Evans and nothing was done. The whole of immigration need to be revamped but Govt don’t have the guts to do what’s needed and nobody really good wants the job to do it. I’ve said it before and I will say it again all the politicians and bosses of all departments and a bunch of prominent caymanian business men and women, financial industry, legal, all the greats need to go on a 2 week retreat and lock themselves in a room along with a top consulting type company(to do all the organising after) and start the process of solving the problems we have and then pass the laws needed to make cayman great for everybody. It’s not rocket science.
” Great for everybody”……….. I don’t think so.
Just start with making it great for local people first who in many cases have been here for several generations. Then we can consider others.
Wow you guys are something else. First you say there is no accoutablity in the civil service …boom the Deputy Governor and his team increases accountability and takes hard action ….now you say what they are doing is taking too long….. This is someone’s life and reputation at stake thank godness it’s not being rushed. Thank you DG for ensuring the hard and difficult decisions are being made. We are seeing a big change in the civil service….All for the better.