Fire chief cashed in on training deputies
(CNS): A redacted memorandum from Dax Basdeo, who was then the chief officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, sent in May 2020 to Chief Fire Officer Paul Walker showed that he has been receiving additional money to train the deputy CFOs to take over his post when he leaves in September.
However, none of his three deputies were successful in securing the post, despite the “extra duty allowance” paid to Walker to help them get there.
The document, which was released to a CNS reader via a freedom of information request, does not reveal how much the allowance was, nor does it indicate that Walker was expected to work longer hours as a result. But the memo states that “coaching and mentoring” the “three recently appointed deputy chief fire officers” was a “significant area of responsibility” for the fire chief.
As a result, from August 2020, Walker was given this undisclosed additional payment each month, which the memo said was tied to “deliverables related to the succession plans for the three deputy chief fire officers over the course of the next two years”.
However, following the recent recruitment process for the post of CFO, the three deputies in question, Roy Charlton, Brevon Elliot and Tina Choy, whom Walker was paid to train, were leapfrogged by their junior, Dwight Randy Rankin, currently a divisional manager, who was said to have proved himself to be the better candidate during the interview process.
Since his appointment, there has been a clear split in the fire service between officers who have written to the ministry objecting to the appointment for a number of reasons and those who believe that Rankin is the best man for the job.
While his inexperience and lack of qualifications running the airport section have been points of contention for some, the authorities have dismissed the issue, since several other senior fire officers have the necessary experience and qualifications to oversee aerodrome fire operations.
Walker is now said to be working closely with Rankin in order to transition the new local CFO into the role. While there continues to be concern among some members of the Cayman Islands Fire Service, the fact that a qualified Caymanian has been able to take on the role of chief fire officer has been widely welcomed.
When a CFO from the UK was appointed in 2016 after the late Kirkland Nixon retired, this was described as a backward step for Cayman by the premier at the time, Alden McLaughlin.
See the memo in the CNS Library.
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Category: Jobs, Local News
Typically, people at the top who have been there forever waiting to get their promotion as a ‘reward’ for years of service, are disappointed and upset that a junior has won the top job. But they cannot say why they should get the job over one who has demonstrated the right competencies for the job where they have failed to do so. This is a critical job that requires specialist knowledge, not a prize for yesterday’s heroes. What can you do for us today and in the future? I support Randy because he can do the job now and in the future. Good job of selection.
Dax the “yes” man.
This guy sorts out the dump and prevents a sh*t show like we had recently with people having to evacuate because of fire and now you round on him because your own people weren’t good enough for the job?
25 @ 11:33 am – “This guy sorts out the dump”?? The same dump which flares up every other week?? Are you serious? Is that you Paul Walker?
Why the hate? What would you have done differently. Are you in the fire service? Do you understand the technology and issues behind stopping the dump fires? If yes, please share. If not, why the comment? I don’t get it.
27 @ 11:54 am – Honestly, no hate to the Fire Chief. I was commenting on the poster’s comment of “sorting out the dump”. So, cynically I wondered if the Chief himself is perhaps among the few who would make that statement. It reminded me of George Bush’s “Mission accomplished!” statement.
I’ve read this article with interest and came to the conclusion that the government is correct with the process of appointing the CFO (designate). Regardless of the letter that was sent to CFO Walker at that time, the government may have overlooked the “Law” and made their corrections. Below is an excerpt from the Public Service Management Law and Personnel Regulations:
55. (1) A chief officer shall operate a personnel policy that complies with the principle of being a good employer, that being an employer who operates a personnel policy containing provisions generally accepted as necessary for the fair and proper treatment of employees in all aspects of their employment, including –
(a) good and safe working conditions;
(b) the impartial selection of suitably qualified persons for appointment;
(c) recognition of the need for the advancement of Caymanians in all parts of the civil service;
(d) opportunities for the enhancement of the abilities of individual employees;
(e) recognition of the employment requirements of women; and
(f) recognition of the employment requirements of persons with disabilities.
PERSONNEL REGULATIONS
PART 4 – Procedures Applying to the Employment of Staff of a Civil Service Entity
Procedures Applying to the Appointment and Reappointment of Staff
25. Notification of staff vacancies
25. When notifying a vacancy in his civil service entity under section 41(4) of the Law, an appointing officer shall advertise the vacancy within the civil service and, if he considers suitable candidates may not be found from within the civil service, in the local and international media as follows —
(a) advertisements shall be placed in whatever medium the appointing officer thinks fit provided that they provide ample opportunity for potentially interested applicants inside the civil service (and, where the appointing authority considers it necessary to advertise externally, outside the civil service) to become aware of the vacancy;
Points of interest are as follows:(b) the impartial selection of suitably qualified persons and (provided that they provide ample opportunity for potentially interested applicants inside the civil service)
To address some of these issues that is plaguing the civil service, they need to implement section 44.
Things like this is why Caymanians receiving a stipend is coming under fire. They cant get because we giving it to everyone else.
The fiasco that has been the “leadership” of the CI Fire Service since Kirkland Nixon was “winding down” (even before he left) is atrocious. I trust that “Clusterfuck” will be listed in his legacy along with orchids! This cost the public purse millions and now we find out about extra-duty” pay??
And for what? The process has clearly caused divisions in the current leadership and, indeed, the ranks? How can that be beneficial? Sheer toxicity!! Mr. Rankin is being set-up to FAIL, not of his own doing! Same old MO of the “world-class Civil Service”!!
Really, senior heads should roll but….
….and the band played on!!
I’m shocked. Civil servant had side gig while fully employed. Say it’s not so.
When Kirkland Nixon retired it was Roy Grant who took over. After him came Dennom Bodden. It was when he quit that the expat was brought in from the UK.
The real problem was that there never was a proper succession plan in place to succeed Nixon.
As is the case with RCIPS. When did we last have a Caymanian as Commissioner?
26 @ 8:17 am – We last had a Caymanian Commissioner about 20-25 years ago. XXX West Bay born and Cayman-raised!! He probably poisoned the well for any future local selections!
As a born Caymanian, in my opinion the only one in the ranks who could be a capable and decent CoP is Dep. Com. Anthony Ennis. Of course, many would not consider him “Caymanian”.
Hope Kurt Walton or Brad Ebanks are not candidates!
Last Caymanian chief we had was During Ivan, when he hid in West Bay making his expat deputy to do all the post-Ivan sorting out.
Lol
The UK and it’s Generosity..LOL
(GP – IK BYW)
Obviously it sounds like they had to pay the guy extra to train these people to a level where they would be suitable candidates. If they required an extensive amount of training i.e. they were far from being suitable such that they needed training beyond what would have been expected as part of Mr. Walker’s normal duties and obligations, why is it unreasonable for him to have been paid extra to go beyond his normal duties to train them?
It seems it didn’t work and someone else won the job, but we can hardly blame him if those candidates didn’t sufficiently improve. Or perhaps they did improve substantially but Mr. Rankin just happened to prove himself as an exceptional candidate.
This is true, I’ve heard it from the horse’s mouth. This article has rightly started the conversation about incompetence and shady behaviour of many in the Civil Service.
However, the headline suggests impropriety by CFO Walker, which is despicable and so far from who he is.
I’m lucky to know him, and all he ever wanted was to help the Cayman Islands Fire Service and find the best Caymanian for the job.
He arrived on island knowing his tenure was temporary. He is a genuine ally to Caymanians and loves this island. He is an absolute stickler for rules and proper process.
He’s done a fantastic job, has respected and encouraged his Caymanian staff and has genuinely behaved beyond reproach. He’s an exceptional man.
We should be praising him, not writing ambiguous, suggestive and bullying article headlines such as this.
If you want to pick on expats, there’s a million absolute pillocks working in the big name law firms here. Racist, disrespectful, with superiority complexes. But that’s another story for another day.
Paul Walker is a very special human being and Cayman was lucky to have him.
Over time I trained an unskilled Caymanian with zero experience to take over my professional position at a law firm when I rolled over because (a) I wanted to – I enjoyed seeing the person progress, and (b) that is an established requirement of the immigration law that too many employers flout. I didn’t get paid any extra for it and neither should this guy.
That’s fair enough, however, this article isn’t true and has missed out some facts and all-important context. I understand this false narrative will be rectified in the coming week. But yes, totally get where you’re coming from. IF this article were true, I’d see why people are angered by this. Peace.
PPM Strikes again!
With no disrespect. Maybe our cayman islands fire officers is acting as if they want Mr Rankin there as our cayman islands CFO. But Maybe at the sametime they are smiling in his face, cutting his throat and stabbing him in his back. Because they really do bot want him as our CFO. If Mr. Rankin can see he can tell if he is really wanted and accepted. Our people are our most biggest enemies worst if they know our people deserves a pay raise or a promotion our people will make sure too ignore or avoid. them. Our people just gets a kick fighting against their own people.
Why is the amount redacted? We paid for it.
Also, who drafts these documents? Why must they state PHD & JP at the end of Dax’s name? That much of a ego or what?
Nothing wrong with that. Dax has a PhD from Wharton, University of Pensilvania. Top notch Ivy League University.
and yet for some reason Dax has not been able to achieve top-notch results.
I wonder why that is…
Oh dear!! PHD &JP are his credentials and that is proper to show. Should we deduce from this comment that your obvious disdain for education is the reason why we now have so many in our elected government who are ranking far below average in education and credentials. Just asking for my kindergarten grandson.
Just Another Day in Absurdistan
Typical CI Civil Service yet Franz with his world class service bollocks!
This is a sick joke. Who approved these terms in the employment contract and why?
Only in Cayman is this sort of madness and waste of public funds deemed acceptable. SMH
Only in Cayman …..especially if he is a WHITE MAN and he is even more highly regarded if he is a WHITE ENGLISH MAN 🧐….leave us with our slave mentality.
You voted for this.
This has PPM red flags all over it..
I can only hope to God that neither of them will darken the reigns of this country every again.
No matter how they tried to cover up, the Bible always says “be sure thy sins will find you out.
Instead of focusing on the issues you chose to attack those you don’t like. And sounded quite backwards while doing so. How about waiting for facts before speculating.
Back to those issues: I would expect this training to be a normal part of a chief’s duties and especially in Cayman, I would expect it to be normal for locals to be trained on the job. Was this not an explicit requirement for this chief when he was hired?
I can’t remember which ppm member the civil service fell under. Remind me please
Tara Rivers was the minister with responsibility for the Fire Service under the PPM led coalition UNITY government
Nothing to do with the PPM, it’s just routine civil servant laziness with other people’s money.
Meanwhile, in the private sector, training Caymanians to advance is a legal requirement placed on any work permit. The expat gets no extra pay. It is the law. A law that the entire civil service exempts itself from, with impunity, and then sends the private sector and wider society the bill.
12.51pm Please name the private sector firm that doesn’t also exempt themselves from this. I worked in Financial services for 47 years and have never seen a W/Permit holder training Caymanian much less seen the local get the position. They all get P/R and Status and just stay on.
The post referenced the law. We don’t do enforcement.
12.51pm What a load of drivel -not a single Caymanian trained by a work permit holder in 47 years?.