Governor was taking active role in civil service
Governor Anwar Choudhury (right) with Chief-of-Staff Matthew Forbes
(CNS): Minutes of the deputy governor’s meetings with civil service management, released this week in response to an FOI request made by Cayman News Service, revealed that the now-suspended governor, Anwar Choudhury, was taking a direct and active role in the management of the public service and attended all of the chief officers’ meetings during his short time here. Choudhury was recalled to London in the face of complaints about his behaviour by staff, but officials have rejected the idea that his close scrutiny of the local civil service management played a part in those complaints.
But the minutes show that Choudhury had concerns about the management of the service and had expressed them clearly to chief officers, and was evidently expecting them to deliver quick results. He told the civil service heads that he wanted to see better common sense decisions being made more quickly.
The deputy governor’s office began releasing the minutes of meetings back in 2012, but over the last few years public access became limited as the minutes were no longer circulated, nor were they regularly posted to the government website.
CNS therefore requested the last 12 months of minutes via the Freedom of Information Law. The documents give an albeit brief insight into the issues occupying the time of the country’s highest paid bureaucrats, and it is clear from the minutes in April, May and June that Choudhury was attending the meetings and was not merely a passive observer.
In April, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson renamed his meetings with chief officers the “Senior Leadership Team Meetings”. The minutes for that month document Choudhury’s first appearance, when he outlined his expectations for a much more agile service, moving at speed, cutting red tape and delivering value for money. He lamented a lack of urgency and indicated that public servants had to satisfy the needs of the government’s customers, not themselves.
During his second meeting, cutting red tape was the priority and the senior civil servants were asked to submit proposals. But the governor was also steering them towards a much more transparent approach, with a civil service assessment panel made up of MLAs, stakeholders from the business community and the media to rate the performance and identify problems in the civil service, as well as more direct public surveys.
In the meeting on 4 June, just a week before he was recalled to London, Choudhury was pushing for the launch of a public campaign about cutting red tape as soon as possible and urging the process forward. By the next meeting on 18 June, however, the governor had been suspended. Although the issues he had raised were still being discussed, the sense of urgency seemed to fade. Suggestions for a press conference on 5 July were made but no such event ever took place to launch the public campaign.
The release of documents also reveals the deputy governor’s efforts to get a report on sick leave, which he raised during the meeting on 17 July last year. But the minutes show that the governor’s concern about a lack of urgency appear well-founded. Manderson indicated in July 2017 that he had asked the Strategic Reforms Unit to review the support being offered to civil servants who are sick and whether leave was being abused.
But despite asking for the report in September, the COs did not meet with the DG again until October 2017, when the subject is not addressed. The sick leave issue was not mentioned again until 11 months later at the 4 June meeting, when a new template is raised for recording details of staff who are absent due to illness.
Then, at the 18 June meeting, almost a year after the DG first raised the issue, the COs are all given an extended deadline to submit their statistics, which was expected to help answer the question, do we have a problem with sick leave? But it appears that it is not until that question is addressed that the civil service will make plans do anything about a problem that many already believe is self-evident.
Whether or not Choudhury’s efforts to light a fire under the civil service management team had any connection to the complaints against him remains to be seen, as officials here and in London have remained tight-lipped about his removal. While allegations of bullying from both his office and household staff appear to be at the heart of the complaints, no one has confirmed the details.
There have been no updates in recent weeks about Choudhury, his possible return or permanent removal or his replacement. In the original statement announcing his suspension, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials indicated their expectation that the probe would be concluded before the end of this month.
In the meantime, the DG continues to act in the role of governor, with chief officers rotating to take on the role of acting deputy governor.
CNS note: Government officials have confirmed that in future the minutes will be posted on the DG’s office website. Officials also said there was only one meeting during the first quarter of this year because the deputy governor and chief officers were focusing on implementing the 5 Year Strategic Plan.
Category: Government Administration, Politics
Great…….what else has he been doing?
The inept civil service bosses, crooked board members, crooked politicians and crooked politicians got rid of Dan Dougay because he did the job he was paid to do. They then thought that the replacement was going to be a pushover, back to same old, same old corrupt inefficient PMFL law violations, but they were wrong!
Every Auditor General since then has done their job and now with the first functional Public Accounts Committee, the poor corrupt governance is exposed daily.
If the UK actually does replace Govetnor Choudhury then let us hope it is with an even more involved governor demanding good governance, exposing those feeding at the trough of corrupt poor governance
FCO, WE WANT OUR GOVERNOR CHOUDHURY BACK!
I am pretty certain we will never see Gov.Choudhury again. As many said he ruffled too many feathers and was determined to make the civil service work for their money in an effective way for the people. Instead he became a scape goat.A real shame.
If we do not do a petition and a demonstration to demand the return of our Governor Choudhury then we deserve continued poor corrupt inefficient governance.
Remember, a people get the government they deserve.
Re ‘a people get the government they deserve’. That holds true because people elect the government. They do not get to choose the Governor.
You really believe thst the civil servants complained on the governor and the U.K., recalled him. Please give me a break. When has the U.K., ever done anything that the government here asked them to do?
2:23 pm: so is your theory that his office and house staff had the power, but the Civil Service and its political arm doesn’t? If that is so, it is really disturbing.
My theory is that the office staff and the top brass in the civil service colluded on getting Choudhury “temporarily withdrawn”.
And by the way, I believe that the Premier was also complicit in the way he handled the announcement. He could simply have said that the Governor had been called to London on business matters — or something similar. “Withdrawn” was a very loaded word.
I heard that he said he couldn’t keep it quiet — that is BS — he didn’t want to keep it quiet. How many times do we endure the withholding of official information, even as rumors are swirling around. That is a long tradition in the Cayman Islands.
You really should just stop talking – because your stupid is showing through the cracks.
2:41: I can see why you could conclude that, but I was simply stating a fact — information is withheld all the time — not that that is something I support.
I was trying to juxtapose the Premier’s rush to communicate on this matter against his and his compatriot’s usual mum position on many matters of public concern.
This case called for communicating with great sensitivity.
As it is now, the outcome is a fait accompli. We will never see Choudhury as governor again regardless of the outcome.
By the way, ad hominem is hardly expected of smart people.
Just noticed these exchanges — I have to confess that when I read between the lines of the original poster — while on the surface it looked a bit odd, I sort of understood the poster’s point:
By rushing to communicate on this, the Premier has in a real sense influenced the outcome. Sometimes, a little discretion is the better part of valor.
Now, that press release has impacted the ultimate outcome.
It is not necessarily what you say, but how you say it, and the question remains: why was the Premier in such a hurry to get the news out?
For sure something has to be done—the civil service is just crazy. Apparently supervisors just let their charges do what they want and are completely powerless. Scary situation.
Lazy starts at the top. People follow by example.
Where can I sign the petition to the FCO for the return of the first governor in decades who , by the evidence seen, had the potential to really reform government in fact and not just talk, talk.
Will the elected MLAs now head up the petition to the FCO for the return of the governor?
If not then will the opposition MLAs now head up the petition?
Better yet, for true unity, will ALL MLAs work together on the petition in the interest of what is best for Caymanians, good governance headed up by a good governor accepting none of the usual excuse.
Your cannot come to our country and expect to change anything. Your expertise is neither wanted or appreciated. If you come and jump on the gravy train keeping a low profile you will survive, but woe betide you if you actually think people should be held accountable, enforce the notion that the civil service serves the people not the other way around.I can only think he rattled a significant amount of cages for his suspension to heppen so quickly; What a shae.
There are two FCO people here now interviewing Chief Officers about him. Why do they not ask the people of Cayman for their views?
I’m very sorry he’s gone – he could have taught those CS’s some basic skills like how to answer their damned phones and how to answer an email. Customer service? Huh – they have no idea. Individually everyone’s lovely. Collectively? They’re
a joke.
With these matters, the first news heard is often the spin on the truth. Now we are hearing the nitty gritty truth.
Q. Seriously, are you people really as stupid as you come across in this thread?
A governor is appointed to “ensure good governance”.
Therefore, any and all attempts to resist said good governance will be inherently expected.
What kind of a spineless and incapable “mother country” is the UK if it allows the government and civil service of a mere overseas territory to trample its systems erected to ultimately protect its interests?
A. What we are witnessing here is an unfortunate suspension of logic and common sense – and of course, an overwhelming presence of vindictiveness.
– Who
* If the general (CNS) conclusion is the reality, then Caymanians should be very afraid – as we are the territory of an entirely useless, has-been of a global power.
(If so, we should wish them all the luck in the world post-Brexit…they’re clearly gonna need it..and more.)
much ado about nothing
The civil service is a fat, bloated cow with hundreds of parasites. Of course they are going to freak when someone comes along and tries to make people actually work for their living. The gravy train must continue! Nepotism rains supreme.
Thousands..
You hit the nail on the head.
What senior managers do to anyone that speaks up against any wrong doing is threaten that member of staff and resort to whatever means they have to get that person fired.
They sit together and joke about exchanging emails and Whats App messages. Even call on the phone’s and laugh about how “This was too much that I had to go Hurleys last night and buy the biggest slice of cake. I ate so much cake that I made myself sick.”
I am witnessing what is happening to a co-worker, and am disgusted to know this is how senior management is acting, including the Chief Officer – who is encouraging a female member to wear inappropriate clothing very scant and making comments that he’ll give her a raise for wearing revealing dresses!!!
Senior management needs a intervention and taught what a real manager is and does!
Someone needs to scrutinize these electronic means of conversation, you can delete from you device but the messages are permanent on Government and Whats App servers.
Okay, I’ve seen all I need to see. No way on earth those domestic complaints justified his recall. He was forcing the Civil Service to do what the public wanted and what the Civil Service itself claims to be aiming to do. The change he was trying to bring about would have required some of those Chief Officers to walk faster than ‘dose ole bones can carreh dem’. Who cares! Hire or promote better people if those at the top can’t meet the new standards.
Bring back the first Governor we’ve ever had who wants us to get what we pay for, and bring him back as soon as this investigation is complete so that we don’t have an Acting Deputy Governor (just another Chief Officer looking out for number one) watering down all the plans that were in motion. Look how many deadline extensions were granted as soon as Choudhury left!
We demand our Governor!
Strangely, I had a dream last night about the Cayman Governor and his problems relating to his recall to London. As I recall it went something like this:
Statement by Anwar Choudhury to office staff member: “I don’t care if you took a 2 hour lunch. Get that letter to the DG typed and ready for my signing, even if you must stay after hours”.
Response by office staffer: “I’m being bullied – He can’t make me work overtime! I’m telling London that I am being abused”.
Statement from Anwar Choudhury to household staff member: “I’m sorry you have a stomach ache, but when I come home from a long day, I expect our beds to be made and last nights dished washed.”
Response by household staff member: “I can’t believe he actually expects me to make his messy bed every day and load the dishwasher. I’m not a maid, I’m a domestic engineer!” I’m writing London!
Statement by Anwar Choudhury to DG: “I understand this is a change in policy, but I’m in charge here so I expect you to follow-up and supervise your subordinates”.
Response by DG: “But Helen always told me to go along to get along!, I think I’ll call London and see about this!!
Statement by the Governor to the Prime Minister: “Mr. Prime Minister, with all due respect, I must say your government seems to be wasting so much money and resources. I really wish your government would demand better efficiency by effective and responsive government workers”.
Response by the Prime Minister: ” Listen here my friend, let me give you some friendly advice and clue you in how it works in Cayman…..”. Later in the evening, the PM thinks to himself: “Now that I think about it, I should just give a quick call to some of my friends here in London while it is a local call…..”
Rodney that is outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We don’t have a Prime Minister in Cayman!
Read the article…he said he going to call his friends in London as it is local calls…he is talking about prime Minster in UK!
I think you meant Premier not PM?
Rodney , it must have been a all night dream , but I believe every nightmare of it , and it’s a true dream , I had the same dream of what took place .
ha ha ha…1.3 million on boardwalk out at south sound and civil servants still on 2008 salaries?????? oh…oh my…i forgot…the rich people needed it. so it justified!!???????? ha ha ha tee hee hee haw haw haw!
We’ll see how well the boardwalk in South Sound holds up to the first good storm and see how many of those below road level condo’s get flooded.
No one needed this sidewalk to no where except whoever accepted the check for its construction.
We love these road projects
The Governor was looking into all sorts of things like the airport, cruise port project and associated costs. He made it his business to understand the potential conflicts of interests that are allowed to happen and what the police and national security council were supposed to be doing. He met with the opposition often all things deemed meddling by the forces that run this island.
And look where it got him. Don’t mess with the power or you are out of here!
11:18 Remember what happened to Dan Duguay?
And you must like him to have such nasty power . Look at what we the people have lost because of his power .”The best Governor the Islands has ever had”. I hope that everyone see the lost , and who caused it .
I think I saw former Governor Kilpatrick this morning.
Oh no, do you think anyone would notice any change if she was reinstalled for another term? Cough, sigh, weeping, depressed….
Now she knows how it works here in Cayman. Stay low, do some photo shoots, praise the government and tell them what a wonderful job they are doing and just keep getting those direct deposit checks.
111:20 All of which was weird because in the UK she had a rep as a kick-ass who took no prisoners. Maybe Cayman was her retirement job?
Just Another Day in Absurdistan
Would we see better days under direct British rule with direct income tax? Would that strip us of our title of “trillion pound paradise”? And what would happen to our Premier then? And the Lodge -controlled others in the Government and public service?
@6:14 u have most of it correct but on Fridays staff in the Governor’s office worked only 1/2 days! This goes beyond the conspiracy within the Governor’s staff but others akin to the ‘deep state’. I can tell you that many of us public servants welcomed this approach! This is where we need Washington Post, NYT-type investigative journalism to expose the truth.
Another decent public servant’s reputation and future destroyed and God help those who have supported him. And let us not forget the unimaginable trauma inflicted on his family, who are left behind, and were not responsible for any of the complaints attributed to them.
Interesting how the subject of CS sick leave was on the agenda yet still nothing is done about the stupidness of giving CS’s 10 days ‘entitlement’ which they view as an extension of their vacation entitlement.
Something should also be done about CS’s who take sick leave and conduct private business whilst taking the govt check.
Our Civil Service are a Mafia which unfortunately is backed by the UK’s FCO for their political and economic benefit. Choudhury is non white obstacle who has now become a problem. I will tell you one thing, our Dear DG won’t be choking back tears about his departure I am 100% sure about that, neither will his disciples and minions either!
I too was here when drunkenness, sexual assault, physical assault and corrupt & abusive behavior vindictiveness by Governors and even the commissioner of police yet not one was ever recalled or properly investigated. Yes Cayman don’t be fooled or deceived by these wicked shaman we have employed in our Govt and if they can do it to governor what do you think they will do you . If he had been WHITE this would have never happened.
Cayman is not prejudiced, we hate everybody!
Choudhury’s “Content of Character” or…?
There is an ambitious attempt to paint a different picture of the reality of the situation and release into the public domain.
The overload of references to Choudhury’s demands and actions whilst in office are asinine at most, and mischievous at least.
May I remind the room, that our previous governor, Helen Kilpatrick, was specifically and EXPRESSLY selected to highlight, critique, and monitor Cayman’s spending, government, and overall efficiency?
It appears as if that crucial point has been conveniently forgotten in this pathetic attempt to smear Cayman and our civil service at this time – admittedly, a far from perfect one – but which is?
Surely not the UK’s, but I digress.
The point is, Choudhury did not represent any new or “shake-up” impact to CIG, and from my moderate insight, most, if not all, elected members of local government / MP’s were VERY fond of him as well as many civil service heads, so the suggestion of such individuals conspiring to have him removed is ridiculous, quite frankly.
The complaints that led to his removal came from within his household staff and from those working closest with him.
Some say a few of said individuals took issue, primarily, with having to take orders from a person (and family) like Choudhury – and I am not referring to the content of his character.
Lastly, it is not absolutely ridiculous for the British government to remove their self-appointed GOVERNOR with a magnate to ensure “good governance” in the Cayman Islands on the account of complaints from the very people he was sent to keep in line?
Again, this was an internal and intimate complaint / betrayal against the Governor and, much like when David Cameron committed the epic eff-up of allowing the British people to express their true “colours”, we see, at its core, not much has changed in British society.
– Whodatis
*I wish Choudhury well.
Only spoke to him briefly on one occasion, and he was an absolute gentleman.
** Before folks start to dissect my post; bear in mind, I was born and raised in the Cayman Islands and have witnessed MUCH misbehaviour, drunkenness, entitlement, adultery, (subsequent) ILLEGITIMACY, disregard for the RULE OF LAW, and general abuse at the hands of our UK-apppointed Governors AND their family members.
Therefore, be sure your points of reference are on point, because I ain’t up for the watered-down rhetoric and tomfoolery from any Johnny-just-come this Friday morning.
Truth Who.. Truth and Fact!
You don’t mean those good, decent Christian people had a problem with a Muslim in charge of them. No that would just hypocritical and just not Caymanian. We love everyone and try to work with ever..yo….n…e … sorry, keyboard got too hot trying to type that.
All genuine Christians love the truth. If Choudhury came here telling the truth, I can assure you that genuine Christians would have welcomed him with open arms.
If the whole world told the truth, there would be no conflict.
We need to stop lying, spinning news to suit ourselves and chasing after too much money.
Tell the truth!
Except the ones who spread rumours about him coming here to enforce sharia law “like the UK” and the ones who started a petition to have him replaced months before he even arrived, or like the ones who called for the arrest and removal of the visiting imam who was here a while back
When have we ever been against minorities here in Cayman???
Classic!!
Whodatis, one, we don’t care whether you are “up to” receiving posts from others, so you can put that in your supercilious pipe and smoke it..
Two, most of what you write here is a load of crap — I had outlined it but the CNS system said I was posting too fast and I lost it and can’t be bothered to re-do.
But just one point — you may be “born and raised in the Cayman Islands” but as everyone knows that does not necessarily make you Caymanian either legally or culturally.
And by the way, no Caymanian would call our MLA’s “MPs”. That is how Caymanian you are.
BOOM!
Hmmm…sounding rather personal there, mate.
Kindly speak to the issues at hand or have a seat.
(Every imaginable ad hominem attack and insult has been sent my way by now.
Try another tactic, Bo-bo.)
– Who
If you didn’t come across as such a self entitled WASP that just happened to be born here to first gen island visitors, perhaps we would take you a little more seriously. Your condescending commentary and ignorant arrogance make your feedback lose credibility with most people. From time to time you have good points but you could stand to present them more professionally.
My friend, come out of that rabbit hole – because you have no company down there.
Address the issues or go away.
Thanks,
– Who
So, Whodatis, you obviously don’t realize that the objectives for Kilpatrick has been in place for years now. But the question is — what did she do?
Who is in charge here, Cayman or the UK?
– Who
(smh)
Frankly, I doubt very much that the relative juniors in the Governor’s Office or the staff at his house had enough clout to have a Governor recalled. My gut instincts is that there was some collusion at the higher levels of the civil service or even in the political arena.
So..you believe the characters under most scrutiny by the FCO / UK managed to swiftly remove the entity appointed thereby to execute said scrutiny.
Ok, got it.
– Who
9:41am, not only collusion at the higher levels/ politicians, but his immediate staff. He should’ve dumped all of them when he arrived. They got away with too much slackness with their former boss. Did he fall over the BASIN?
You are not “up to” the views of any “Johnny-just-come”? Wow, when I read your stuff I know exactly who you are. You are so representative of the superior expats’ attitude on this island, looking down your nose on everyone else. Some do keep it hidden, but it is on full display whenever you write, particularly today.
I suggest you re-read my post and gain a better understanding thereof – because you are WAY off-target.
– Who
Whodatis’ usual Marl Road unsubstantiated rant.
Hello Who or should I call you Doctor? You seem to have an axe to grind with the FCO and possibly the UK as a whole but have you ever lived there and mingled with “real people”, if so for how long? I’d be much more concern with how our local politicians behave than appointed governors. Maybe Mr. Choudhry was just following by example if he allegations are true and therefore he might very well have fit right in here if he’d had the time.
Personally I think these allegations are just a ruse to cover up a more serious matter he was involved in, I do hope I’m wrong on this however.
7:08 what a breath of fresh air. It seems that posters hate or jealously for our caymanian civil service leaders has clouded their brain. Simply put ..you are an idiot if you believe that a Governor who is charged for promoting good governance and to work with the DG on civil service reform was removed for doing just that.
I am proud to say that i am civil servant and I admire and support my chief officer and DG.
I know that our DG efforts to stand up for his staff and promote accountability has made him unpopular. But Sir don’t be deterred and continue to make us proud.
With most of the senior government posts now being held by born Caymanians and hearing the demands by politicians and the general public for ‘Caymanisation’, I wonder about this criticism of the senior civil servants. Is it envy, jealousy, by locals? Is it the new Caymanians who want to see their people in these posts? Try walking a mile in the shoes of one of these COs then tell us about it. It is convenient when you can hide behind ‘anonymous’ and disparage our own.
Yet you post as ‘anonymous’. Outstanding!!
3:11pm, try walking in the shoes of one of the COs, e.g., the CO who overseas the Dump/garbage collection. Big joke, hope it doesn’t come back and bite you. Time will tell.
Wha ya saying, who he stand up fah?
-Whodatis , sound like someone else I know , but do you think that any simple Civil servant could’ve done that , the removal of the Governor ?
“Senior Leadership Team Meetings”? LOL, I’ve learned over the years never to trust anyone who bestows fancy titles like that on the routine activities of their organisation. It comes from the same mindset as people who refer to Toilet Cleaners as Sanitation Consultants.
I’m guessing Gov Choudhury’s problem with the meetings was that he never saw much evidence of any real leadership at them.
Ha ha. Whatever happened to good old “Senior Management Meeting” ?????? Name removed by Juniour Sanitation Engineering Associates.? LOL.
Seems like this dud shook up the apple cart and the power brokers did not like it. Problem is they all like it like it is as long as they get a nice big check and don’t have to do any work or be accountable for anything. They can’t see Rome is burning around them as all they care about are themselves.
Sounds like he p***ed a few people off to me.
The peanut Liquor board meeting minutes all over again .
Looks like the Governor was following Mandersons vision for a world class civil service. Glad to see they were working together.
9:52 Where’s the LOL button when you needn it?
9:52 pm is being ironic, folks.
What article did you read? 9:52 pm
LOL
Our governor was on the right track.
Anonymous 9:29 pm , and it was your government that is on the wrong track .
Read the minutes…the usual “prayers were offered” stuff and nothing of consequence with lots of civil servants giving their apologies for not being there……….until Chowdary shows up and the attendance is full!!!
Make Cayman Great Again!
The heart of the matter — “a much more agile service, moving at speed.”
The DG has alot to hide and he wants to ensure the skeletons in his closet does not fall out. We were happy when a Caymanian was appointed DG but that has proved to be a mistake. We need Mr Choudhury to return here asap and clean this mess up.
Anonymous 7:52 pm , no one could have said it more factual , and I believe that the actions of the removal of the Governor , is just like when you see an employee come in a business /company and he/she knows more about running the business than the manager or any other employee , and all the knives comes out to stab you in the back to get rid of the most knowledgeable one .
I would say that it is wishful thinking of Mr Choudhary returning , he has more pride for himself than to return Cayman ever . Just remember what happened and who should be responsible for it happening . Use your own visionary imaginations. .
Or at the very least we need a new Governor like Choudhury, with spine who’s not afraid to upset the rotten apple cart. One who ignores the usual intimidating “this is how it go” advise from our most infamous politician. Our political organized crime syndicate needs to be disbanded, named, shamed and the ones found guilty need hard time and barred forever from public office.
@10:15 I agree and if the next one is like him and suddenly is recalled for unspecified reasons, you know it’s the local power mongers not wanting their leashes on the people removed.
Anonymous 10:15 am , I agree that we need a Governor like him , but we the people needs to put these politicians under heavy manners , because the same thing would happen to the next good Governor like Mr. Choudhary.
None exist.
GET GOVERNOR CHOUHURY BACK!!
6:56an, March, March, March on the GAB. Start an PETITION to the FCO.
7:52 you were happy when a Caymanian was appointed? Really? The constitution requires the post holder to be Caymanian. Shows your thought process. Frightening!!
Stop the hate
Daaaa I am well aware of the contents of the Constitution, however I will repeat what I said and that is it was a mistake. Caymanians in power are like crabs in a barrel and the DG, being Caymanian, benefits no one but himself and his cronies!!
I am not a hater, I have known the DG from Cayman Islands High School days. Please open your eyes are see what is happening.
We need competent people to lead be it Caynanian or Expat, because we hire from overseas and get less than as well.
A review of the minutes and a look at the civil service strategic plan shows that the Governor was taking forward plans already in place. Also these plans continued to be progressed after the Governor left. I really don’t see an issue here.
7:43pm at a snails pace, as usual. Did read that monthly meetings were off the agenda from 2012? Soooo, was that business as usual? Hats off to the DG.
This whole debacle stinks. Reminds me when children do something wrong in front of you then try stare you down claim they done nothing. Like trying to tell us 2 + 2 = 7. Just doesn’t add up.
We finally get a governor who means something to US and as soon as he starts taking positive action which will only make life better for US – poof – someone wave magic wand and he gone. Someone got scared.
Politicians and Senior Civil Service know this a. You cannot pull the wool over our eyes any more and b. WE WANT MR CHOUDURY BACK. Let him finish his good work!
If I wrong I sorry. But if I am right, SHAME on all of you who would do this to a good man’s life, family and reputation.
So LET US MARCH TO GET GOVERNOR CHOUDHURY BACK!!
Which community leaders will head up this action ASAP.
I really believe he was sabotaged by Civil service manangement who saw things coming to an end. The bearacracy in this country is ridiculous.
Sounds like Governor Anwar was doing something that the DG and CO’s were hesitant to do which was to address some of real issues in the civil service and attempt to have more accountability. Issues such as looking into sick leave and abuse of such entitlements should remain on the agenda, be discussed and an action plan implemented. If the DG & CO’s want to fully implement the 5 year strategic plan, then be the leaders that you wish for others to follow in addition to recognizing that you all are paid a hell of a lot of money for your positions. DO YOUR JOB!
Yes, we know that.
I commend the Governor’s efforts to light a fire under the CO’s but as they are all such damp squibs his efforts were doomed to failure. One can only guess at the reason for them dragging their feet on a review of sick leave, could it be self preservation?.
The governor went door-door too quick talking to the locals and the politicians did not like that because the politicians only know the people once every four years that is election day. The governor visited different government entities too quick and shoke up the chiefs and they do not want anyone too tell them what to do so they got upset with the governor for trying too take them out of their comfort zones looking at him like he were a bully. The public knew if the governor did that he would not be liked by alot of civil servants mostly the senior civil servants that is so trapped in their comfort zones for as long as twenty years and more now.
Franz Manderson was being exposed by the governor
6:16 really? You mean the Governor who referred to the DG as a superstar and great leader. I was there when he said it.
I can’t believe the rubbish I’m reading on this site. You all live in sick world full of negative thoughts contempt, hate and jealously.
Governor Choudhury had to go because he was holding the Deputy Governor and his direct reports Chief Officers something that has never occurred previously. The Governor refused to accept the excuses frequently offered by Mr. Manderson and his hand picked leadership team. His tone was direct and he requested reports and set timelines for all. Matthew Forbes and the rest of the Governor’s office staff were accustomed to leaving work between 4-5pm but Choudhury had them frequently working until 7-8pm. Choudhury was different and had a complex but was driven to let everyone know he was in charge. This drove everyone especially the Brits in his office and at the Governor’s house insane. He must of thought he was one of their kind. His biggest sin was he held everyone particularly senior civil servants accountable in front of anybody at any meeting and was pushing the Standards in Public Life law into force which is unheard of in the civil circus.
4th floor you are really part of the problem. Try and do some work and stop being jealous because the DG didn’t pick you. These comments shows why he didn’t pick you.
You keep referring to the DG hand picked chief officers. Exactly who else is suppose to pick them? My goodness how did you get to the 4th floor if you don’t know the laws.
The best pick was his selection to act in his absence and wanted to deviate from set procedures to order G. trucks. It is called procurement.
Unprecedented !
Imagine this Governor. The nerve of this Muslim man to sit in on our Chief Officer’s meetings! To critique them about customer service, the golden rule, and try to get them to perform civil duties aright!
I still firmly believe “staff” from the Cayman Islands (including christianized and traditional minded ones) complained about this man to the Foreign Office.
I have never known of a more corrupt government.
Manderson is the problem, when its all said and done, wait and see…
don’t ask awkward questions regarding cayman civil service…..
Sounds like we need him back, ASAP!
CNS, this strongly suggests what most of the public suspected – that Mr. Choudhury’s recall perhaps had less to do with his alleged actions to his staff than to his intention for reforming the Civil Service. Clearly, civil service leaders and senior staff were not happy with his intended approach – to the detriment of the public. A local media house appears to be correct when they accused our public services of being inherently corrupt.
I feel sorry for the minority of ethical public servants who are swimming against the tide!
sounds like he was “bullying” them into doing some work….
5:02’s”bullying” is being ironic folks
Disgusting. It is our money. No accountability.
And the plot thickens….
Ah Ha…. The truth . It looks like he got call up for doing his job instead of going out on cocktail parties with the “no so rich & not so famous” all the fake peoples. He looks also to want to get a grip on the civil service which is needed. They work for the people but they all have this GOD complex and to be very honest 80 to 90 % of them are only high school graduates at the most. Bring him back to clean things up and have them earn their salaries . I bet you if you were to see the sick days or no show days of all civil servants including the authorities it would put you a state of SHOCK, then again in might not. Management and accountability within the government does not exist. My people but My God .
This is so true.
The senior managers on the third floor would not show up until almost 10am and take an extended lunch and still leave by 5pm every day. This went on for years.
There is one employee who used to come in late, spend two or three hours in the bathroom – to flat iron her hair and apply her make-up. Then she would take lunch in the HR managers office to gossip for hours, possibly sleep in the lactation room for hours, and then leave to attend to personal matters or go grocery shopping as she hadn’t taken any lunch and was stepping out for the afternoon.
It’s only now that senior management arrives close to 8 if not before and leave after 5. As for the bathroom woman she has to come in earlier to do her hair and make-up so that no one catches her……but the rest of her day stays the same, with the exception that she can’t sleep in the lactation room as its now locked and you have to sign in out for the key. Oh bother…
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen… but instead they throw out the stove, that is Anwar, and are trying to make prime ribs with an easy-bake oven.
This is a perfect analogy 4:09 pm
I like the way you put it.
prime ribs in an easy-bake oven… LOL!!!
The people of the Cayman Islands demand answers now as to the whereabouts of our Governor.
Talk has it among the people that he was well received, well liked and interacted in a great way with all of us.
England owes us a reply immediately.
Apparently, CNS and its followers believe domestic complaints led to his recall … I think that is speculation. We are left in the dark, meanwhile everybody here is bashing the Civil Service and praising the Governor as some righteous man … smh ????
CNS: No official reasons for his removal have been given, but there have been claims in the UK media which have not been denied – see Governor Choudhury’s removal ‘not political’. Speculation has nothing to do with it. The praise for the governor in these comments is based on the official minutes of the COs meetings.
Thumbing CNS not the OP