New community affairs boss to staff up NAU
Teresa Echenique, Acting Chief Officer, Ministry of Community Affairs
(CNS): Two additional staff members have been hired to work at the Needs Assessment Unit, starting today, Monday, the new acting chief officer with responsibility for community affairs, Teresa Echenique, told staff on a tour of the NAU last Wednesday. She said that efforts would also be made to fill other vacant positions to ensure that clients’ needs are met. Following the departure of former CO Dorine Whittaker, who had halted the recruitment efforts of the NAU, Echenique said despite budget constraints she would do what she could to help the department.
Following a visit to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) on Tuesday, 26 September, Echenique met with staff at the Needs Assessment Unit the following day for the first time since taking up her new job. She told staff that the ministry would work to support and enhance the departments and help them deliver services to their clients.
“Communication and information sharing is imperative, flowing from department to Ministry and vice versa,” she said. “It is very important to remember that we are all in this together, working towards the same goal, and therefore it is necessary that we support each other and our work.”
Her comments come after last month’s Public Accounts committee meeting, where NAU Director Tamara Hurlston made it clear that the ministry had been causing her more problems than helping her deal with an exceptionally challenged department. But in an effort to start to repair the relationship, Echenique thanked the NAU staff for their hard work and dedication, including many long hours and late nights to ensure that clients’ essential needs, such as housing, were met in a timely way.
She added that it was of the utmost importance for people in their line of work to exhibit professionalism and respect in their dealings with people at all levels, whether clients, staff, other stakeholders or the ministry, and that she was confident they would carry this forward across the board in their day-to-day operations and continue to enhance services.
Category: Local News
Do hope that Mrs Echenique will make a difference as she will be working with the same staff. Assistance should not have a priority tag for friends and relatives nor political supporters but those Caymanians who really have a need and not greed. The worst is when one who is not able like an elderly to go to the office and you call and its like a mockery. That is when the office is answered. There is no wonder that so many from Grand Cayman go over to Cayman Brac where it seems like Heaven with assistance. I really think that the Department needs professional caring and understanding folks working there. To be told that a worker of your choice is not there when they are in their office is a crying shame to them. It seems like some of them try their very best to make the Government look bad.
Additional staff may indeed be needed. BUT there has to be a concerted effort to remove those who should not be receiving benefits from the various troughs. Anyone who receives a benefit and who is able to work should AT LEAST be performing a community service that otherwise government would spend additional tax payer funds on. For example, beach cleaning, painting of old/young persons residential buildings, etc. If there is no performance then they should be no benefit.
Maybe then the able bodied persons will see that it is better to get a real job.
While this sounds great to the public – doubt it will ever happen because our politicians do not have the courage to enact legislation or the guts to make it happen.
Always wondered why able-bodied persons could not find work, but when the roadside cleanup programme (Brac) is happening they show up. Hmmn lets see, get paid $10 per hour, keep receiving their benefits, and go back to the normal routine.
But it gets better – now at “Pop a top” (Watering Place) Park the Government has allowed a refrigerator to be placed next to the temporary electric service and the usual suspects now have a place to keep their beer cool. Nice job by the Brac East representative – whose church is directly across the street – thank you for taking care of us “less fortunate” – oh by the way I need money to top up my cell phone – got to go further west for that!
Peace and love,
P.S. A friend has internet service, so I can stay up all night surfing the net and sleep all day because the government takes such good care of me that I don’t have to work
This is a much embarrassing Park and could certainly do with some enhancement.
Its not the park, its the people.
yes the caymanian need to take up there post there are many more caymanian like Teresa is a shining star in
Thank you Deputy Governor for giving so many Caymanians an opportunity to shine.
Brackers taking over! one scott, frederick, echenique and ritch at a time!
They are born Caymanians…..and this how it should be. Glad wasn’t someone from Jam.
Congratulations Teresa and best of luck in your new post.
Ditto hear Miss Teresa,
Fellow UT Grad
There must be a sigh of relief with this new boss because it seems like the other was more a hindrance. Congrats young lady and continue to shine.
Yes 8:48 PM you can be assured that there is a huge sigh of relief with new boss – and the NAU Director should be happy that former employees, like me, have pointed out the shortcomings of the leadership associated with this ministry and FINALLY chief officer gone – next is one certain deputy.
The quality of a UT education, summed up in one short post…