Manderson challenges PAC’s Ahearn allegations
Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn with Deputy Governor Franz Manderson
(CNS): Acting Governor Franz Manderson has said that he will not be taking any disciplinary action against the health ministry’s chief officer, Jennifer Ahearn, because he does not believe that she lied to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), as claimed in the recent correspondence to his office. Manderson said her “recollection could be considered mistaken or erroneous” when she answered a PAC question last year but she had made it clear at the time she was not certain.
The PAC filed a motion in the Legislative Assembly asking the House to hold Ahearn in contempt after the deputy governor’s office had not responded to its letter more than 100 days after it was sent. The PAC members believe it was impossible for Ahearn not to have known that what she was saying was wrong, given her position. They also believe this is at least the third time the ministry boss has lied to the committee and Chairman Ezzard Miller has said it could no longer go unchallenged.
In his eventual response to the committee, however, Manderson has made it clear that he, and by extension government, does not believe Ahearn has done anything wrong. Manderson said that when she answered a question about appointments to the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) she was doing so from memory and told the committee that was the case.
Ahearn had said, “I believe and I don’t have the list in front of me, but I believe that there has been continuity. I don’t think that there has been a change that we’ve changed the board wholesale. But again I am speaking from memory and not from paper in front of me and I don’t know for certain. But certainly a recommendation from the Ministry when appointments are being considered is to make sure that there is some continuity for that very reason, to ensure that there is some consistency from one to the next as those appointments are being made.”
PAC maintains that this evidence was grossly inaccurate and a borderline attempt to mislead the PAC because the entire board had been changed and, as the CO, she would have supervised the change and cleared the necessary paperwork just days before she appeared before the committee.
“I do recognise that, in light of the actual gazetted changes in the membership of the MDC, the chief officer’s recollection could be considered mistaken or erroneous,” Manderson said. “However, I believe that it is plain to see that the language Ms Ahearn used in her response to PAC clearly indicates she was speaking from her recollection, and at the same time she acknowledged that she could well be mistaken.”
The acting governor said that the CO’s statement contains seven caveats by which she sought to emphasise that, while offering a response, she was speaking from her recollection and simply could not answer the question definitively or conclusively.
“It is, therefore, my opinion, based on the evidence, that there was no attempt to mislead the PAC in any way,” Manderson said. “Given this, and my investigations and advice from the Attorney General’s Office, it is my finding that there is no basis for disciplinary action against the chief officer. As such I am duty-bound to dismiss the complaint,” he added.
But the civil service boss said that he had “only the utmost respect for the work of the Public Accounts Committee”, adding that he expected “all civil servants to demonstrate the same in their dealings with PAC”.
Going forward, Manderson said he would “instruct that all civil servants must inform the committee if they have an imperfect recollection of matters when appearing as witnesses. They should request an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the matter or to provide an answer in writing.”
Despite the exoneration of Ahearn by her boss, she is not completely off the hook yet as the motion filed in parliament could still pass if the government committee members hold fast and manage to persuade one more government back-bencher of their position.
While that scenario is most certainly in question, Ahearn could still face some serious criticisms and further embarrassment during the parliamentary debate when the issues surrounding her ministry are bound to be raised.
These include multiple current scandals concerning the Department of Environmental Health, as well as the CarePay fiasco, where Ahearn had, without consequence, presided over the ministry during the largest successfully prosecuted government corruption case.
Category: Local News
Usually an organization tries to recruit the best and brightest for future leadership roles. Where is the evidence of this in the Civil Service at the highest levels and the HR functions where it is well known that HR struggles to find the best and brightest talent. High School grades of everyone in Civil Service leadership positions should be published for all to see as therein may lay the answer to problems faced in the country, and the absence of potential at the age when such talent is usually spotted, otherwise chicanery is used to cover up innate intelligence.
Don’t forget the politicians too, who seem to think they are brighter than everyone else.
There is no question in my mind that the PAC has a job to do and they are doing just that. The COs are now in a difficult position in that they are now being held accountable, something that is new to them. They are used to doing what they want and when they get in difficulty, they run to another civil servant or DG who covers for them.
I disagree with the DG here. This CO at the very least is inept and at worst seems to be purposefully misleading. She should have asked for time if unsure – instead she invoked caveats multiple times…why? what is she trying to accomplish?
If we take in to account the costs associated with the CarePay fiasco (she was the CO then too) and other situations it seems the PAC is well within its remit to call for disciplinary action. I think the DG (or others – maybe the LA) need to challenge this if real accountability!
Just because you caveat your statement doesn’t mean your not trying to mislead.
In fact, people who are prevaricating will often caveat what they say to cover their own behind if and when their false statements are checked. If they can’t be accused of lying then it’s heads you get away with it and tails you invoke your caveats. You can’t lose and so if telling the truth isn’t an option pull out the old lie and caveat!
Better evidence would have been that she was not in any way involved in the changes and they were not communicated to her.
It’s clear to me that the PAC or CAP has decided that the Chief Officer is not doing a good job so they are going to try and ruin her on the floor of the LA. This is wrong in so many ways. This is not the role of the PAC. Hopefully the Speaker will stop this nonsense.
I am so tired of Caymanians tearing down each other while other nationalities stand together and try and help one another. Sadly it seems that Bernie Ezzard and Saunders have no interest in helping Caymanians.
Public servants take note. You could be next. I know.
Nicola , you would have said that about the Governor too .
The PAC didn’t decide that she was not doing a good job , they said that she lying . Bernie and Ezzard , Saunders , do have an intrest in helping Caymanians becoming honest and transparent, but it’s the other ones that are not helping them .
Absolutely 7:27 am: amnesia is resorted to when it is inconvenient or worse to answer the question.
Franz, however, has few options, especially the ones that you mentioned, as she had to at least be aware. Even if a CO does not actually do the work, she assigns it and she would have signed off on the final product.
This would especially required in the case of the fairly involved matter of disbanding a board and appointing a new one.
Friends, if she is so disconnected from her staff that she was unaware of that, Franz needs to look into what is going on in that ministry.
I agree with the DG that the CO did not, with malice mislead the PAC. However she demonstrated how very inept her management skills are and this clearly shows she is operating a few notches above her level of competences.
Despite she having no recollection of the medical board changes, she confirmed that continuity of the board membership would always be maintained when accepting recommendations for new members. And despite she did not possess the list of members, she did not seek to even see if the membership had changed. No one can expect her to remember every detail of her meetings and actions, but she does work in an era when this basic information is virtually in the palms of her hands.
The PAC must feel disappointed with her reckless performance, as this is a highly complex Ministry and no one there seems capable of even seeing where the Dam Bull is, much less grab him by the horns. How else could the PAC possibly feel but annoyed and betrayed and totally ignored and disrespected? We certainly expect a more informative and “switched on” Chief Officer. I do not think the PAC and other members are being racist or plain bigots or otherwise. This Ministry is running the Cayman Islands down through the ground.
This is just preview of what is going to be happening in the Island untill we can get a new Governor. I think that Mr Choudhury would have handled this issue differently and got more evidence to make an informed decision on the accusations . If this is what I thinking it is , we’ll never see Mr Choudhury face again in Cayman Islands , and if this is sour grapes, the next potential Governor might think twice before he/she come to be Governor . So figure out how and who made this mess for us .
West Bay Premier ….Are you Okay? There is no other evidence. Blizzard and blunders are using the statement the Chief Officer made to attack her in the LA.
If this is your level of intellect you should move out of west bay.
5:54pm , read my comment below .
Ms Ahearn had taken pains to qualify her response so many times (7 according to the DG). If she was so unsure she should have said my brain just froze on me, So when I leave this chamber I will send you a written response.
She was duty bound to provide accurate information and it was irresponsible to advance an answer that she clearly knew was incorrect.
I wish that some people would take the time to read and understand the comments before you thumb down /up the comment . Do you see how stupid it makes one look , when 50 people who agreed , and 2 or 3 disagreed That’s the same as think before you speak .
They talk about evidence, he said she said is not evidence. Did they check her emails?
Recently submitted a bid to said ministry in question in which a very powerful and influential entity also has a vested interest in what i bid on. Called to inquire as to the status of my bid never reached persons handling the bidding process. This is how legitimacy gets hijack and how those in question live very well. Yes and they do it with the confidence and reassurance that the powers that be will defend any decisions they make no matter the consequences or the outcome.
CNS: The Procurement Office (see website here) is supposed to oversee bids. I suggest that you contact the director with a detailed account of what happened. If you have already done this or if you think the Procurement Office is already at fault, contact the Office of the Ombudsman (website here).
Thanks CNS. I am not the original poster but hopefully more suggestions like yours will help the general public to realise that there steps that they take to help themselves regarding their complaints.
I applaud CNS for help Justified Ego by posting the web sites to the right people , and if they fails you too , I will publicly expose them too . Because that kind of shit /BS shouldn’t be excepted . This is the kind of things that the Governor had seen that needed to be fixed . I really think that the people of Cayman needs to stand up to the government NOW .
Absolutely nonsense! You mean an entire board has been changed and the lady can’t remember or isn’t sure. What is her position again?
On TV:
“Mr. Miller has filed a contempt motion in the LA seeking to have the House recommend the Director of Public Prosecutions Office consider issuing perjury charges against Ms. Ahearn.
“I am not really to concerned about whether it is successful, but I think it is important that it be aired in public,” the PAC chairman said.”
Now, if he is not concerned about his Motion’s success, but just wants it to be aired, what does this tell you?
8:46 am — it tells you that he can’t guarantee success — and we can see why. The system, which is too weak to call a spade a space, is closing ranks.
But he wants the public to be aware of what goes on behind the scenes and he wants to take a stand on principle. Good for him.
Great point . It tells you that this is political victimization at its worse.
It tells you that Ezzard is smart enough to know the likelihood of getting government support on this motion is slim, because the government doesn’t acknowledge problems in their ranks until they are forced to do so and quashing this motion would eliminate the problem for them
Diogenes
Ezzard is not smart enough to know anything.
“We are sorry, that was an oversight and we are addressing the problem”. Stock Civil Service reply to all issues.
The PAC is out of control period!!
It’s a one man dictatorship. I’m hearing Austin and Barabara want no part of this contempt nonsense , kudos to them if that is true.
Premier we need a leadership change at the PAC. Al Suckoo would do an amazing job. He is a gentleman and professional.
This not what Saunders campaigned about. I am so disappointed in him.
Anyone can see that what was said is not a lie.
This is exactly what Cayman does not need right now. Caymanians attacking each other. So sad.
I really was fooled by Saunders. But not again.
Is Saunders a Caymanian?
Yes you ignorant twit! Hence why he’s eligible to run for public office. The bigotry in this island is off the charts. If you are a local you are a disgrace. If you are an expat you exemplify why the racial tension exists between locals and expats.
So let me get this straight you voted for Saunders so Caymanians would be what? Above the law, unaccountable for their actions, not challenged at all in any regard?
Is that what you want, a welfare state for entitled Caymanians who have no fear of being responsible for what they do or what they say, a system that will not punish or try to correct our behaviours no matter how egregious or wrong?
Saunder’s Campaign like most was based on an intention to be a part of the government, as we can see he clearly is not. Meaning simple his role has evolved from what he promised you, he now has other duties equally as important for our system of government. Without the opposition love them or hate them we simply be living with one narrative and one voice who would spend all day singing their own praises.
For every person who voted for Chris in BTW their would be two people around the island criticizing him for joining the government in the way that Austin did, or if for instance he was a first term minister criticizing him for rushing too quickly into the role.
The problem with making promises and proposals when you are running is once you get in there is no winning, its part of the job, there are always going to be people who are willing to attack and demean whatever it is you do, even if it is doing the job you get, even if it isn’t the one you signed up for.
There is no winning as an MLA, there is only surviving and that is what they are all trying to do, keep afloat. Every four years they get to the point where they all get pulled under and they fight to reach the surface again for another term.
Whether you agree with what Chris is doing now in the PAC he is serving the role he was put into even if it wasn’t the role he wanted. He understands the importance of his position even if you don’t.
9:03 pm: lol. Anyone can see you must be blind.
You only disappointed in Saunders just now?
Buzzard miller and Sauders are two incompetent blowhard gasbags.
Thank goodness the acting governor did not succumb to their bullying. Good job.
You know I always think that these people are paid too much.
But then I sit back and think, you couldn’t pay me 10k a month to have you commentors living among me while criticizing me like this even when I was found innocent. No sa.
Chief officers are busy people can’t remember everything. What people are forgetting she was called to the CAP ( committee against people) to answers questions about the HSA.
This was done on purpose to set her up.
This is the same CAP who caused the HR manager at the hospital to have a nervous breakdown while questioning.
This is the same CAP who just called the Director of the Heath insurance commission to be questioned about CIMA accounts.
No one knows what to expect when they appear before CAP. The CAP is out of control.
This is not good governance.
You are really short minded…
If persons can’t perform under pressure the only answer is to get out! That is exactly what’s stifling the civil service. Perhaps there should be a swap of private sector workers and civil servants. I bet there will be lot of change should this happen.
Those who perform best are those that have come from the private sector.
They are not interested in joining the pattie, paper and pepsi band wagon that the dead beats are all too familiar with!
They work by a time spent method. Its engrained in them and they have to be able to multitask effectively. Accountability and responsibility go hand in hand as well. A job description is not just a piece of paper and neither should a job title be for show.
When will the civil service get into this practice???
Perform your duties well, pay attention to details, cover your base and be able to delegate minor tasks so you can pay attention to the bigger tasks that requires more focus and attention.
Blaming people for someone’s shortcomings is not the answer. The persons who are subject to questioning on subject matters which falls under their supervision needs to address their shortcomings.
I rest my case!
9:21 you have no case.
8:52 pm: And who again was “found innocent”?
I believe I can’t say for sure but anyone who supports this motion is useless.
8:46 pm: you crack me up.
Finally someone standing up to the bullies. Victimisation of any kind is wrong.
Civil servants take note of this behavior. You could be next. Thankfully you have a leader that will stand up for you.
With so much happening in Cayman it boggles the mind that Ezzard and Saunders have time for this.
Every employee at every level in government must be held accountable including the Governor, DG, Chief Officers, MLA’s, members of statutory authorities, employees of government owned companies, political appointeees on boards and the rank and file civil servants from top to bottom. There is no consistency and one standard applied objectively. There are too many examples of the double standards that can be sited. The Civil Service Association must work to protect all of us not just the chosen few or those in the right places. Mr. Manderson has forgotten this and we see it all the time.
Uncivil…you again. Are you really up this early. Ask yourself what work you did yesterday and are you being held accountable. Have you earned a days pay in 10 years.
5:24pm have you thought that just perhaps Uncivil lives in another time zone.
‘Bout up early. Geesh, such small mindedness!
Let’s have the same sympathy for a senior Caymanian professional vindictively and suddenly accused of harassment to settle a personal score.
The anonymous accusers enjoy self satisfied smirks as they try to destroy a man’s reputation, while the accused suffers humiliation .
She may not be guilty of lying, but she is certainly guilty of being Incompetent and uninformed and ill prepared!
Senior Civil Servants such as COs should be properly briefed on issues impacting their Minisitry! They know far in advance the issues that they will be questioned on by the PAC!
This just demonstrates a lack of respect for the Countries Watchdogs (PAC and Auditor General) when COs going into these situations and are totally Not prepared and cannot speak to what happens.
Shame Shame Shame!
Exactly what managerial preparation has this CO and others at the Deputy CO level received prior to appointment. It used to be CS policy that to become a CO one had to be a proven Head of Department.
People are being set up for failure with the present system.
Beautiful lady doing a great job
So Elvis, one of your descriptions is clearly meaningless in this discussion and the other is obviously false.
Thank you, thank you very much
Ummh, I don’t, and I’m not speaking from papers here, recollect the wholesale changes that occurred not so long ago right under my nose, but i do wish to advise you that anything that I recollect may not be a recollection of what in fact occurred as my recollection faculties may not be correctly recollecting the recollectable that under normal circumstances should be easily recollected, if memory serves correctly, and therefore is in fact recollecting what I ought to have recollected. I hope I’ve been crystal clear with Y’all.
Crystal clear, 8:11.
Moron; how much do you think you would recall if you had about 30 boards under your ministry, and went into a PAC meeting prepared to answer questions on one subject, only to have Ezzard grill you on something completely different? If this outcome had gone the other way, then we would have top civil servants not being prepared to commit to answering any questions, unless they have some documentation to refer to right in front of the, for fear of being accused of lying. The lady qualified her answer enough times with “I’m not sure, but ….”. Only an imbecile, or someone with a personal vendetta, would believe they had grounds for perjury. If only he wasn’t protected by parliamentary priveledge …..
8:03 am: what a local of you know what. She has ONE board that had just been completely replaced. This is all she had to remember — that ONE board, the one she was being asked about, was completely placed.
Who completed replaced the board? she did. Who had to order notification of old members and new members, she did.
Come on — let us not first, of all, attach people — a sure sign your argument is week, and two, draw red herrings across the argumentative path.
The CO is not the one who deals with that? The different boards fall ‘under’ different staff in a ministry. This is the problem of the CPA throwing random questions at people before them, without – as in the old days – saying in advance what would be under consideration. The Civil Servants prepare for what is their remit and then get asked about related stuff. They are damned if they don’t answer and, as we see in this case, damned when they do try to answer.
1:08 pm: yes, the CO is responsible for dealing with composition of boards. She prepares the Cabinet paper to recommend the disbanding of the old board. Then she has to notify the members. Then she has to recommend the new members. They have all to be contacted. And the notice of the new board has to be gazetted. Her job.
There is no way she would not have remembered any of that.
It may seem strange that she would have deliberately evaded such a seemingly innocuous question. Come to the debate and all will be revealed.
1:08 pm: she may assign responsibility but she still supervises and signs off on final papers.
Moron? Thanks for the compliment! If you cant’ remember that all (or even most) members of one board were replaced, that’s a problem. Apologies if it offends you.
Aaahh… Go ask the private sector persons who hold directorships under their belt what the task is to remember details on 50, 100+ directorships.
Government and the ppl who work there are jokers!
It is so sad how we pull each other down. I bet if she had said she couldn’t recall and would have to get back to PAC with the answer, some people would have attacked her for being obstructionist to PAC, and/or that she cannot remember things she does at work.
At CO/CEO/COO level these are roles where people have hundreds of matters to deal with on an almost daily basis. There is no way she could recall all of those matters at one time.
Poppycock. No one would have accused her of being obstructionist if she had asked for a couple of minutes to get the information. That is not unusual. It is also possible to send back the information in writing. And she is well aware of that.
And again if her brain is so sieve like, she should find another job.
The real issue is why was the question asked? The answer was public information. Isn’t there some rule that PAC shouldn’t ask for information that is readily available to everyone ?
If she was in charge during the CarePay years then she should have been gone a long time ago.
This is not good. The devil’s in the mixture.
Ezzard and Manderson should be seeing eye-to-eye. I don’t like it.
Wow!! The response in committee was so convoluted and repetitive regarding lack of papers and being unsure ….. coupled with the wholesale change in the committee days before that I come to a different conclusion to the DG. But then again I’m just the man on the clapham bus.
I just lost respect for Manderson. He was the last hope for the civil service. It feels like I should go into mourning.
We do not need him.
It is this simple. If you read what the chief officer said and conclude that she was lying you are an idiot.
Caymanians are losing their homes and this is the kinda of BS Miller and Saunders are focusing on.
While she is not Jamaican or Cuban she is a Caymanian. Shame on you Saunders and miller. I expected a little better. No vote for you Saunders.
Frankly, in the private sector if you were so ill-prepared to lead an annual senior management discussion on the goings on within your own department, and attempted to stuff a version that was 180′ from the reality, while having the presence of mind to backpedal an indemnify yourself…you would be $#!tcanned on discovery. This isn’t the PAC looking for a gotcha moment – she owns this malperformance for herself!
Oh please, I worked in the private sector, same crap happens all the time.
Private sector is worst. We have a boss telling only Caymanian employees we are lucky to have jobs.
She answered in such a way that she probably couldnt be convicted of not telling the truth but she should be fired for incompetence.
So a civil servant at the pinnacle has to be instructed to ask for an opportunity to refresh her overtaxed memory? Or to investigate and respond in writing? Eh?
Seriously?
So the whole board is changed and she doesn’t know it is? Regardless of where she is from that is fishy.I think you would know if an entire board has changed. @3:12, you want a drink or candy with that popcorn? I’m going to the concession stand.
So we should conclude that she is simply uninformed about or uninterested in the recent doings in her ministry? I mean, given the fiascos about Carepay, the nurses and security, what are we supposed to think?
Manderson just made her look more unqualified for the job. Not much help ?
CarePay? What happened to the minister at the time?
How is HE not involved? I don’t understand.
Ezzard and Ozzie-all hate driftwood…this is what this is about. Good on Franz for standing up to racist BS.
Racist BS this is not, is about honesty, accountability and competence which neither of them seem to have or comprehend. These two will support each other to the gallows, they deserve to go down together.
Well, that will be a first.
That’s why they complain when the boss says he is delving into destroying their dolly house. It’s same story either the CCTVs. Scam and the taxpayers pay for it. You get promotion for running the ship ashore.
A revolting and shameful abuse of power by Miller Saunders. They should be removed from PAC until they lose the next election.
Can you imagine Miller wants to be our Premier. Frightening.
Would a person who hates driftwood marry two.
Actually yes. Because he can bully them.
yes
The Public Accounts Committee has every right to expect Chief Officers to provide honest, accurate answers to their questions. COs are paid big bucks to know this stuff. A CO can’t have much interest in her work if she can’t remember signing off on something as important as a complete Board change just two weeks ago. Whether this woman is from Canada or George Town, she is expected to be prepared for these hearings. And CNS, what is the allegation of being lied to several times in the past by this same CO? What is the Chairman referring to?
In Franz’s world it seems that none of troops do any wrong except Dorreen Whittaker
Doreen didn’t do anything.
Perhaps she should have organised the DG’s 5k for extra points
Exactly, she did nothing, zilch, nada zero etc etc
Storm in a teacup. Now I guess Ezzard and his cohorts will have to go back to drinking coffee on the patio outside Papermans Midtown, and discussing what mischief they can conjure up next.
It is actually The Daily Grind. Outside coffee and breakfast.
Full of Beans actually, based on my recollection, but I could be mistaken as I don’t have notes in front of me.
That’s after Papermans. Can’t drink too much coffee during the day.
Seems like they spend their days hanging out, however I digress. If Ms. Ahearn lied that is wrong but she would be no different from the two of them. Maybe she lied to them and they lied on others. Let those without sin cast the first stone. Thank goodness that Mr manderson is still human. I have listened to their rants on the tv and they both come across too bombastic. Very few of them can govern without pomposity and hate.
Yeah we paying them to hang out at those places doing nuttin.
Big surprise, one civil servant protecting another civil servant.
3:16 It’s commonly known as ‘closing ranks’ and public servants the world over do it – it’s part of their job description. I’ve worked in both central and local government in the UK so ‘been there, done it’. The only consolation for me is at least things are no worse (in some ways better!) here than back home.
Popcorn
Ezzard said he is not concerned whether the motion is passed but it should be aired. Sounds like he wants to embarrass Ms. Ahearn more than anything else. Perhaps he should have asked her to go research it and come with the actual facts. Why didn’t he do that? Could it be that he already knew the answer to his question and he was just trying to set her up. As for Chris Saunders he won’t even answer his phone when we try to call him. The garbage was overwhelming us last week and no one to could get through to him. Some of us decided to call MLA Al Suckoo and he got on it and the trucks were rolling in Friday and Saturday. Looks like I might have to move to Newlands to get good representation. MR. Suckoo thanks for looking after us.