CINICO boss sacked by board
Lonny Tibbetts
(CNS): In an unexpected announcement, the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company board of directors said that CEO Lonny Tibbetts has been fired. The news was delivered in a short statement from the board, which is chaired by Patricia Estwick, via GIS on Monday. The long-time public servant has been at the helm of the government-owned health insurance company, which provides cover for some 15,000 Caymanians, for almost eight years. In a very short release the directors said he had been sacked with immediate effect but gave no reason for that termination.
“Unfortunately, as a result of information which recently came to the attention of the Board of Directors and which has been investigated, a decision was taken to terminate the employment of the CEO of CINICO, with immediate effect,” the directors stated, adding that they do not propose to make any further comments at this time.
CNS reached out to Tibbetts, who said he was unable to comment at present but would release a statement via his attorneys. CNS understands, however, that there are no criminal allegations being made at this time and that his termination relates to allegations of general misconduct.
Before taking up the post as boss of the publicly owned insurance company, which has recently been cited as a possible launching point for a national system, Tibbetts worked for what was the Department of Employment. In early 2010 he was suspended from his post as DER director over internal staff issues.
The investigation into the situation reportedly cleared his name because the issues largely related to problems that began before he took over as director, and he was about to be reinstated when he was given the CEO post at CINICO.
CINICO’s clients are made up of civil servants, indigents, the elderly and people who cannot get insurance with the private market because of pre-existing conditions or other barriers.
Category: Local News
Perhaps there should be an investigation into others that do not objectively fulfill their rolls….some of his cohorts and those pictured with him in Cayman Brac, Honduras and all over social media. There are many heads that believe they are untouchable …they come and go as they please, travel as they want, expense items as they see fit etc.
I want a BOOB job please
Throw a monkey wrench into the wheel.
Offer Edzar Miller the position to handle CININO.
After all he know a thing or 2 about that area.
He is actually not that bad with treatment of employees. And he will have a clue as to what can be salvaged from it. Another win win. (Key card play).
Alden. Your next move.
CNS what is the rule policy on conflicts of interest within Boards and Ministries, doesany such conflict exist in the CINICO saga?
CNS: See here – Revised public ethics law still in limbo. Contact your MLA and tell them you want to see this implemented.
Very quite from our normally vocal East End MLA’s and the other fools with the employ a Caymanian no matter. Well this is the outcome, just look at all the chaos in the various departments.
You employ the best person for the job. No discrimination! and then Cayman will prosper
Just like hiring a telephone technician to run an airport!
Life is easy breezy here
This is what happens when the government is determined to hire any old Caymanian instead of the best candidate on the planet for the job. This was a highly paying job, there was no reason in the world to hire someone with no background in healthcare, insurance or executive management.
Yes one person may be better off for a while but you’re not doing them a favour in the long term putting them in a job over their head. Meanwhile everyone else suffers – the public who suffer poor services at higher cost and the employees who lack good leadership.
Ironically it is the public that demand government hire a Caymanian, regardless whether anyone is qualified for the job. Look at the outcry when the fire service had to bring someone in from overseas. Never mind that lives are at stake – the job must go to a Caymanian!!! Never mind that tax dollars will be wasted – the job must go to a Caymanian!!! Never mind that no qualified Caymanian applied – the job must go to a Caymanian!!! Never mind that hiring someone who can’t do the job will result in them being disliked, fired and publicly humiliated – the job must go to a Caymanian!!!
If the best candidate is Caymanian then awesome. If they’re not, so be it.
Well said and every point made here is spot on. As a Caymanian born I say this without any hesitation most Caymanians cannot handle a top position primarily because we are our own worst enemy and we allow position/power to “go to our head”. CINICO was well Managed Authority until Lonny was given that position. He abused his power, treated staff in ways that most would not believe. A long term Caymanian staff member who was employed with CINICO for about just as long as they’ve been in operation took the decision to resign from their position because of how they were treated by Lonny Tibbetts. Qualified and probably one in there that was Capable of doing probably what he was hired to do.
Well this is what happens when they do wrong in one Government Department (Labour) and are rewarded by a higher position with another Government Department (CINICO). He was in no way absolved from the issues that he had with the staff at Labour. Without publicly releasing the outcome of that investigation he was allowed to jump ship to CINICO where the staff abuse continued.
Please don’t come here and try to run our country. If yours was so great why aren’t you there?
Hahahah But YOU can’t run it!! And what makes you think that person is NOT Caymanian??? Because the person wrote an intelligent post???
9:49pm you need to pull your head out.
There must be a nicer way to say that.
4:10. The most intelligent comment i have read on CNS this year.
This is exactly the reason why our DG is being attacked by the likes of Bernie. Bernie was on rooster a few days ago complaining of caymanians not being hired in the civil service. He doesnt same to care about whether the caymanian can do the job our not.
We have seen a real change in civil service hires and promotions and a dramatic increase in accountability since the DG too over. I am happy to see this spill over to the wider public service.
12:22pm when is the last time that a Chief Officer (Mr. Tibbetts roughly equivalent) within the Cayman Civil Service was terminated?
Stop talking rubbish about “spill over” from the Civil Service to the Public Service – never happen and never will!
Well said, the government will be criticized either way. Better to be criticized for hiring a well qualified expat than an incompetent Caymanian. At least in the former case they will have a well run department to show for it.
Succession plans are obviously important but again they should not mandate the elevation of any Caymanian, just give them the best chance to rise to the level required. Even the best succession plan may not succeed. The person could leave or just not make the grade. Guaranteeing them the job is only going to take away the motivation for them to earn it.
4:10 8:56 and 12:22 what a breath of fresh air. I was beginning to lose hope.
Much has been said about the various forced retirements and suspensions of senior members of staff of various Government Department and Authorities. However the removal of the NRA Director will likely prove to be premature. I feel the Board of the NRA missed an opportunity for a win win with the Director.
This is the second time I’ve heard this in this thread.
The alleged theft of fill / materials and the misuse of PUBLIC equipment by a PUBLIC organization’s supposed ‘leader’ are not matters most right-thinking individuals find acceptable. They are, in fact, criminal offenses.
Not to mention that his selfish actions have damaged the image and reputation of the organization, its Board and its Chairman – a man of over 40 years of service to our country.
Now: WHAT is this win win situation you refer to?
Caymankind
I wonder if this has to do with the health claims issue a few years ago with the hospital?
Finally a board has the b..lls to terminate someone without suspension for years with salary.
Very simple pay off as per our employment laws, give extra incase of an investigation and to be told you’ve been paid enough.
Not “unexpected” at all. In actual fact a long time coming.
It is outrageous the amount of slackness that goes on in that place with the employees sleeping around with each other.. Some of them don’t even have any shame at all to know they are along with someone and go to work to fool around with their colleagues and it is a disgrace especially with some of the young women who work for CINICO who have no self pride to be sleeping around with the fellow colleagues it is the ultimate lowest you can stoop.
Can you please tell me how I apply for a job at CINICO
Pay a visit before you go hoggin’
Sign me up too!
I thought that was all the gov agencies…
that behaviour seems to be rampant throughout government and government entities mi chile, not just CINICO. Unna need to be looking at the top.
Maybe the men who are sleeping with the young women that “have no self pride” should think of their partners and families at home. It doesn’t seem to me like they have any self pride themselves.
I’m not advocating cheating or sleeping around, it’s just that it takes two to tango.
Now see here 9 52! Too much information as in T M I.
Never mine. That sort of thing happens everywhere.
Wow! someone have strong balls to fired goverment employee! One down and more to come
Start with Ofreg Management that making it harder for most to live because its not hurting them. FREE SUV’S FREE GAS FREE TRIPS WITH SPOUSES AND FAMILIES FREE PHONES FREE WITH FREE DATA CALLS AND 100K SALARY ALL FROM THE PUBLIC PURSE. THEY WILL NEVER FEEL THE STRUGGLE LIKE THE REST.
if you feel you have done no wrong…sue them lonnie….and yes. you and i were classmates!????
633pm, this cannot be termed “accountability” yet because the Board has not said why they fired Lonny. It could just as well be political vindictiveness – and there is a lot if that going ’round!!
He could also be a scapegoat for some bad decisions by the Board. He could be another Roydell, yeah although there were faults, he did not do things alone, someone else had to approve the decisions, yet only Roydell was ‘retired’
Politocal vindictivness, Right… especially considering that CINICO was operating perfectly with beautiful financials
Long overdue!
A real terror to his staff and totally inefficient. Should never have been hired for the CINICO position.
Anyone remember when this person was cooking the unemployment numbers at the former Department of Employment Relations DER.
Cooking. He was doing more than that at DER. Terrorising staff among other things. Too bad the results of that investigation were never published. But we the staff know what the results were
Immigration, Port Authority, Turtle Farm, and many others involving suspension or dismissal. There is one common denominator here, sad, but irrefutable.
You mean Legge didn’t have to grovel with his apology!!???? He was right??
We knew he was right from the jump!
#LeggeWasRight
Legge said YOU were corrupt.
One drama after another, Cayman can’t run anything in a regular, non-crazy way. Thank God the police have been raising their game.
You mean they have been given more orders from those in power to hunt down those whom are not politically agreeable.
So, let’s build a 200 million dollar port….Some of the backlash against the port isnt only due to the environmental impact, look at how the government so often f#$%s stuff up…..inefficiency and a lack of accountability….please please don’t let them build a dock. Look at the high schools…that was under Alden’s purview as well.
So what, another sweetheart deal down the tubes!
NRA Director? I believe his removal was a serious error by the board/ There was a win win situation the Board failed to realise. But 99% of the people will not acknowledge this because they like to see people humiliated.
2:28 are you really serious. The taking of property that is not yours or the usage of property without the owners consent is nothing else but a crime.
The MD at NRA has not been removed. The matter is still being investigated and the MD is presently on ‘required leave’.
One down, one to go
Must have really screwed the pooch in order to be fired immediately rather than on 2 years of paid leave then quietly pushed out the back door when no one is looking
what in the hell kind of systems does government have? seems that there is not one department that that is accountable. Let’s hope and pray that someone wakes up and starts to monitor the whole kit’ ka-buddle…..sooner rather than later,
7:54. Really!! I thought getting fired was being held accountable!!
Go back to sleep!
Anonymous 7 :54 pm , all the systems begin with a C and you heard what Mr Leggy said .
So Ron you consider Missa Leggy as an authority on accountability ei , boy go sit down.
Josh
Josh , I am only quoting him on his corruption stance , not accountability . And who let you out of the crabhole with that kind of manner and attitude.
Corruption/ nepotism is in all forms of employment period. So thanks for stating the obvious.
Ron – Legge said YOU were corrupt.
Leggy don’t know me , and he has a better chance of knowing you and that’s who he was talking about, not me .
But why don’t you use your real name you cowardly no name nothing .
Let me try to explain the point. Legge said ‘Caymanians are corrupt’. Not some, all. So Ron, Legge said you were corrupt. Doesn’t matter that he didn’t know you from Adam. He judged you as being corrupt simply because you are Caymanian.
Why would you think that would ever happen? I mean really.
This is a quick way for Alden and Moses to have the country forget about the port fiasco project for at least 48hrs. The performance this morning on Radio was dreadful.
You too funny. I guess Alden is responsible for everything bad in your sad life.
If they think this two word statement will make anyone forget anything they are quite misguided
I wonder how his Tiger Bay Bar and Restaurant in the Brac during ?
Do you really care?or are you being a jerk…crabby mentally?
Could that be a part of the issue?
I hope i never see a comment again about we need accountability in the public sector.
Lets pray for Lonnie
6.33pm Sorry, but it’s needed more than ever.You can count the number of dismissals on one hand, but for the number of problem employees you need a calculator.
“You can count the number of dismissals on one hand, but for the number of problem employees you need a calculator.” You are right! Wouldn’t that fact indicate then that someone at the top needs to be sacked? Just sayin …
2:14. Tibbetts was at the top.
No one wants to be the heavy and then show up for weekend dinner with the family.
Family or no family, people need to do a good job and treat their employees with professionalism and respect.
2:34 i read the latest CIG HR report which stated 17 persons were fired last year. Those this mean you have 17 fingers? Stop crabbing!