Ex CS boss slams waste
Posted on Mon, 08/13/2012 - 10:35 in Politics
(CNS): The former deputy governor and head of the civil service, Donovan Ebanks, has said that the public money spent in Cayman Brac on paving private driveways should be paid back to government coffers. Following his recent retirement, the public sector boss is now free to express his opinion over political issues, which he did last week as part of a public panel discussion on government’s budget crisis. Ebanks also revealed that he believes the $9 million hurricane shelter project for the Sister Islands needs to be suspended, given the current financial circumstances of government. Asked about wasteful public spending, Ebanks said that there were some classic examples that stood out.
“Certainly the situation that we saw in Cayman Brac with the paving of the parking lots is at the top of the list and I think those expenditure should be recouped,” Ebanks said at the Generation Now discussion last Wednesday at the Harquail Theatre. “The other classic example … is this proposed shelter for nine million dollars which I think is absolutely unnecessary and should be stopped.”
This is not the first time since his retirement from the top civil service job that Ebanks has spoken out; he was vocal in his support recently on the referendum for one man, one vote and publicly signed the petition and encouraged all public sector workers to do the same.
On Wednesday Ebanks also express his opinion on the issue of over-development in Cayman, which he said put pressure on the local infrastructure and, in turn, the public sector.
During what prove to be an interesting and focused discussion, the other panellists also noted the issue of waste and mismanagement of public cash by government. Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin pointed out that here were many areas of waste that could be addressed but he pointed in particular to things like the Nation Building Fund, which had been allocated some $10 million in the last two budgets.
McLaughlin said it wasn’t that the all of the money was necessarily being wasted but there was serious potential for mis-management with a whole new structure for allocating public money and with a minister being so close to that allocation. He explained that if it was too onerous for young people to get scholarships, then government should address the criteria laid out by the Education Council, not create a separate way of awarding them.
“Why is it necessary for the premier to select who gets scholarships?” McLaughlin asked. “Anytime we give a great deal of discretion to ministers, whoever the ministers are, as to how they can dispense money you inevitably get into problems. The ministers get into problems because they are always going to be lobbied by people for this grant and for this assistance. It is far better if there is a system that is run where there is at least some degree of distance between the minister who makes the policy decision and those who actually dole out the money.”
Cayman Finance chair Richard Coles, who was also a guest on the panel, pointed to his own experiences as the head of the Legal Affairs when he was attorney general and how in his first year in post he was delighted to find that he and his staff had come in under budget, only to be told by his chief financial officer that this was bad. Not only would the department not be able to carry that savings over to the next year if they did not spend the money on something before the year end, the following year’s allocation would be cut by that amount as well.
“That is an absolutely crazy situation that was happening throughout the civil service,” he said.
UCCI Professor Dr Weishan said government all over the world had that system in place, where people are rewarded to be wasteful rather than thrifty and prudent.
Ezzard Miller pointed to some serious wasteful spending in government at present, not least because the proper processes and checks and balances were being avoided, ignored and even aborted.
Pointing to the premier’s claims during the Cohen loan controversy that substance was more important than process, Miller said that’s when government risks a serious level of wasteful spending. He also agreed with Ebanks that money spend paving private driveways in Cayman Brac should be paid back.
The Generation Now panel discussion will be broadcast on Radio Cayman at 7pm this evening.
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I'd be willing to bet that
I'd be willing to bet that for every dollar of misappropriation we know about (illegal paving, gas cards etc) there is at least $10 we don't know about. That might be on the low side. And McKeeva tells us with a straight face that they have "gone as far as they can with cuts". Hey Mac WE ALL KNOW THAT ISN'T TRUE. Don't you get it yet?
It reminds me of that Iraqi minister that they called Comical Ali who denied the US had invaded, while US tanks cruised around in the background.
I think it's better late than
I think it's better late than never that Mr. Ebanks is now speaking out.
That someone in as powerful a position as he had (or felt he had to...whichever) wait until retired though speaks volumes of the archaic "systems" though.
And now he has a big fat pension to boot!
Rememeber the Chief Officers that Mac couldn't "wuk wid" home on gardening leave for years now (collecting six figure salaries...and headed for big fat pensions)...and of course Mr. Duguay?
While the PPM gave us FOI and are no doubt the lesser evil compared to the UDP...the 2009 Constitution gave the premier far too much power...and for that the PPM are in large part responsible....not to mention the UK/FCO.
Afterall they should have forseen this as it's common knowledge (if one researches history at all) that "power corrupts...and absolute power corrupts absolutely"!
TALK TO THE HAND! I can't
TALK TO THE HAND!
I can't believe this man. Why in heavens name did Donovan Ebanks do something about the 3,000 jobless Caymanians, and the thousands of work permits his government granted that kept and is still keeping Caymanians from making a livlihood?? sorry Donnie but you are only positically postering on behalf of Ezzard Miller. This means we should vote for Joey by all means in North Side.Oh yes it does.
MR. DONOVAN EBANKS, YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE AND 'COULD HAVE DONE MORE 'TO HELP CAYMANIANS
"Talk to the hand!"....
Vote for WHO????? Joey? Not
Vote for WHO????? Joey? Not Joey of Turtle Farm infamy? Not joey who helped himself to a 'loan' and thousands of dollars of free turtle meat? Joey who was running with PPM one day and the next was on McKeeva's platform lambasting them? That Joey. Go hide your face in shame to even suggest such a thing. He is politically, dead, buried and forgotten.
What does "positically postering" mean?
What could Donnie have done for unemployed Caymanians? Employ them in the civil service? Isn't that the problem now?
We don't need hurricane
We don't need hurricane Hilton in Cayman Brac. Never did never will. This project needs to be stopped and now. The money can be better used elsewhere. Also we do not need a new Public Works compound and offices in Cayman Brac - my goodness our population has dwindled to less than 2000 and the government keeps spending and spending in the Brac - for what so Mi Lady can brag about what she has done to get re elected this is madness. The PWD facilities are just fine - sure new is nice but it is not a necessity so why are we spending what we don't have. Can someone please just put their foot down and say NO
The money spent of the paving
The money spent of the paving of private properties should be paid back AND the minister responsible charged with defrauding the public purse, but as usual there is silence from the government on this as the minister is one of their own! That is what disgusts me. This is plainly wrong and there is not one thing anyone can do about it.
JuJu Banton said she would
JuJu Banton said she would make a statement after receiving legal advice. Her legal advice is taking longer than the 2012/13 budget.
Am I the only one bothered by
Am I the only one bothered by the fact that we have a Premier who says "Bobo" quite often whilst addressing the public? Really? Mr. World Leader.
Thank you Donnie BETTER LATE
Thank you Donnie BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. Everyone in the Brac is afraid to speak up you see. Too much money wasted that is not hers. Any other part of the world something of that nature was done the Politician would either be dismissed or thrown in prison. Folks can hardly live in the Brac again as it is even more hot than before with all this asphalt. Just imagine body guard calling and saying that they are coming a certain day to pave the yard when no one even asked for it to be paved. Then the Hylton hotel that is not needed as every family has someone with a home on the bluff that is a hurricane is coming that can go with their family. Instead since she does not know what to do with money wy not get piped water to our homes. We all need to march and stop the hylton hotel. Now for our good ole Miss Sylvia. A woman who had no fear of no one. Last but not least we wanda who the hell going to trouble the barefoot gal? The money spent on body guard per year can help train some poor child for the next olympics. Come May, come fast.
Thanks for your courage Mr
Thanks for your courage Mr Ebanks. It is so refreshing to see leadership. It is so good to read the posts on here. Don't get me wrong I find it disturbing that so many voters can't speak up because of their employment with civil service. I'm just glad that someone is finally brave enough to point at the elephant in the room. It will encourage others to do the same. Then who knows, maybe things will start to change for the better. Real freedom of speech and reform will come once civil servants can express their point of view without fear of reprisal.
Waste...? Like the Christian
Waste...? Like the Christian Heritage park ...?
That's a paying car park for George town..stop pandering to the churches and look after the needs of the real people.
And the $2M (at least) to
And the $2M (at least) to churches. And the $2M (and change) to pay off GLF. And the -- what is it -- $6M unpaid by Ryan? I really wish Mr. Bush would have the courage to accept that he is way, way out of his depth as Minister of Finance at this particular time; that he actually doesn't know what's best for country; that his constant political interferring (for whatever reason) is causing financial havock. And I quote Bananarama -- well why not!: "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it. That's what get results." Process leads to substance and fiscal prudence. I just noticed a little pink pig fly by my window?
As a former very senior civil
As a former very senior civil servant I am astonished by some of the posts below that seem to assume that Mr Ebanks (or any civil servant in his position) could speak out against politicians' policy initiatives and make them change them "in the public interest". It does not happen. Politicians, to do them credit, often listen to their senior civil servants but when it comes down to them and the "woters", they listen to their "advisors" ( Mac = Leonard Dilbert, Charles Glidden, Richard Parchment, Julianna O Connor whatsit). The reason Ebanks is talking now is because like many of us he has had to sit quiet for many years and watch these elected officials (of all political persuasions) do things that are ill advised and often purely political and vote gathering - eg the Brac driveways. I hope to God Donnie offers himself for political office at the next election and I have been encouraging him to do so.. I wish I could join him but as a very long term paper Caymanian, I recognise that that is not possible as Cayman at this point in its history just could not accept a non born Caymanian candidate running for election. Since that is the case, let us carefully assess and sort out those born Caymanians who do (often repeatedly) offer themselves for election and consider carefully whether (1) they have political ideological beliefs that they can articulate to the country, (2) they are running because they have been let go from their employment (in some cases recently both from Government and private sector but they will not tell you that!!!) and are just disaffected Caymanians looking a big paying job. Frankly, number 2 is a problem if you look at many existing politicians and wannabes who the civil service was glad to get rid of for many reasons. I have said enough and will get masses of thumbs downs! But ah so it go.
"I wish I could join him but
"I wish I could join him but as a very long term paper Caymanian, I recognise that that is not possible as Cayman at this point in its history just could not accept a non born Caymanian candidate running for election".
Cayman has had non-born Caymanians run for office. One was particularly successful: the late Sir Vassel Johnson who was not only elected by his constituents but also elected to ExCo (as it then was) by his legislative colleagues. Contrary to some views put forward here the Constitution does not prohibit non-born Caymanians from running for office. One simply has to be fully naturalised as BOTC by virtue of one's connection to Cayman, have Caymanian status and renounce any other citizenship one might have. I think if you are willing to take the necessary steps then the voting public (which now includes Caymanian status holders) would like to have the option.
Thank you for these comments
Thank you for these comments 12:06. I think Sir Vassel is a slightly different scenario. His family came here so long ago that the "fever" about expats and their role in Cayman had not yet begun. Many people hail the late Clarence Flowers as a Caymanian entrepreneur. He was a Jamaican who also came in the very early days. But he was a Jamaican who married a Caymanian. No one sensible would now call the Flowers family Jamaican. I believe the late Val Anderson was born in Nicaragua- no one would call his descendents non Caymanians.
BUT, things changed in the late seventies and eighties onwards. I don't want to go on and on about this, but if you ask many Caymanian older voters of the non professional classes whether they would vote for stalwart expats like Peter Milburn, Tim Ridley, Chris Johnson, Travers and others who have clearly benefitted Cayman, you will be told "no". I repeat, you have to ask the non professional older ones ( ok, i.e not so enlightened but they still have a vote).
There is some truth to what
There is some truth to what you say. I was not saying they would necessarily be elected the first time out but they would get significant support and in any event that is no reason not to give it a try. Someone has to blaze the trail.
Fair comment, 14:38. Point
Fair comment, 14:38. Point taken.
This country is now (finally)
This country is now (finally) ready for a real qualified non-Cayman born indicidual. The late Vasal Johnson was born in Jamaica. We need to elect responsible people who wish to serve and not gain profit from the job. Thumbs up-you agree. Thumbs down-keep everything just like it is!
And that goes for statutory
And that goes for statutory authorities too!
Could you imagine a Caymanian
Could you imagine a Caymanian running for Election in Jamaica? It could never happen.
Yes, agree to the point that
Yes, agree to the point that we need to elect responsible, accountable quality legislators. This is what OMOV was all about.
However, you should note that Mr. Vassel was never elected. He was Financial Secretary which is a position that is appointed.
No, I think you are wrong.
No, I think you are wrong. Sir Vassel was indeed Financial Secretary (and protested when the Budget went over 10 million, God bless him) but he eventually ran for election. He became what we would now call a Minister in Agriculture, I believe. Kearney Gomez (who was in that ministry so long some say he worked for Noah when he built the Arc) was his PS.
After he retired he ran for
After he retired he ran for elected office and served one term in Exco. He was the person who introduced the Marine Parks legislation.
Err...Sir Vassel was elected
Err...Sir Vassel was elected as an MLA in 1984 after he retired from the civil service. He served as ExCo Member for Development and Natural Resources from 1984-1988 (which means he was also elected by his fellow MLAs).
It didn't stopping him
It didn't stopping him slagging off the Auditor General (see previous posts) for simply doing his job.
Incredible. Civil servants
Incredible. Civil servants say they can't offer opinions that may be seen as not towing the government line. They say they can't risk losing their job. So they stay within the government machine, acquiescing to all that the govt says & does, no matter how detestable.
What baloney.
Not once have I seen anyone discuss personal integrity. Surely you don't stay employed by a regime you don't like, otherwise it's hypocrisy, pure & simple, no matter what the current salary is. Anyone then leaving the CS after many, many years of service, and suddenly finding their voice, is not a credible witness. Their integrity has been compromised by years of turning a blind eye.
In particular, DE was so vocal for the "untouchable" civil service while he was in power that who can believe his about-face now ? He must think we are all stupid and have no memory of his defiance of cuts. Makes me sick.
You know im thinking better
You know im thinking better late than never. If he is standing up now then dont criticise him to much. Its still a small island and in the circles he travels i feel he must have made quite an impression with this voice of opinion.
The old pickle should just
The old pickle should just stay pickled and retired - he had his time. Time for the new generation to take over (e.g. Cayman United).
yep and what did he do.
yep and what did he do.
Unless I'm mistaken, a lot of
Unless I'm mistaken, a lot of nothing.
To Anonymous (not verified)
To Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 08/14/2012 - 13:15. Unfortunately for you,you are mistaken.
Silly goose, I was being kind
Silly goose, I was being kind when I said "unless I'm mistaken"...of course he did nothing. He stood by and let all kinds of dirty things happen under his watch.
Quoting 14.38 "Why are you
Quoting 14.38 "Why are you posting anonymously if you are so bold and courageous?"
It sure does frustrate me to see everybody posting anonymously. No one has the courage to put their name to their words so why waste your time. It can be easily surmised that ONE individual can sit by their computor all day and post and post just to stir up trouble Until you put your name to the comments you could save the ink because your words are not having any impact on the changes that you want to see in Cayman.
Stand up for your beliefs and let the world know what you Stand For and who you are.
There seems to be only one person that the MAJORITY of the posters have a problem with. So are you telling me that all of you are scared of losing your jobs. Surely you are all not employed by Government and surely not all are on Work Permits.
You are mostly all running down Donnie, ANONYMOUSLY OF COURSE, for not speaking up when he was Deputy Governor. What harm can he do you if you had the guts to sign your name to your post.
While I did not always agree with Lac MacTavish I respected htat he signed his name. Same with Peter Milburn.
As far as I am concerned, the thousands of Anonymous posters are just causing unrest on the island. If you signed your name might have some success in your endeavours. Yo
Please remember whether we are UDP or PPM or Independent we are going to all suffer the same fate.
Put names to anonymous so the
Put names to anonymous so the rumour-mill, character assasins, personal-attackers can start to make comments on commentors relatives, nationalist, how they speak, how they walk, how they dress, how they smell, where they work, what is there religion ...sound like a plan to to block comments that are addressing the real issues. Anonoymous needs to be anonymous because of distractors from the reality of the situation.
I say thank god for
I say thank god for anonymous.
Well said Abrana. More need
Well said Abrana. More need put their names on their opinons. Stand up and be countered.
Causing unrest? Or do we care
Causing unrest? Or do we care deeply about Cayman and want our voices heard - but have genuine fears of "repercussions' from those we critize? If people could speak freely, without fear of such reprisals, then we would. But the history of Cayman is littered with such instances where reprisals do occur against those who speak out, and until it is stopped, it will forever be a part of Cayman life. Its not pretty, its not fair, its not reasonable, but its REALITY.
Correct, if people could have
Correct, if people could have truly spoken freely about mismanagement without recourse, the many cancerous problems we now see would not have grown to their irreversibilty observed today. Prevention is the best medicine, but it cant be administered when management acts in denial and suprresion of a diagnosis.
"Collective Responsibility" -
"Collective Responsibility" - That phrase didnt affect some past stalwarts like the late Sir Vassel Johnson.
Also, this term is often claimed (Wrongly) by ordinary MLAs as a cop-out -- but it does not legally apply to them!
True he could have said
True he could have said something but the he probably had to sign a declaration of secrecy, FOI should have dismissed this all together but for some reason people are still being asked to sign. What holds up? A declaration of secrecy that you signed years ago or the now current FOI law.
The positive thing is, Mr. Ebanks is now speaking up. We should commend him for doing so.
Collect all if not most outstanding debts owed to government, cut unnecessary spending, and put that money back into the economy to create jobs and economic stimulus. Oh yeah and find ways to create efficiency, most of the money government spends is in wasting time and money. Make it easy to collect revenue from the public and make it easy for government to process. All the red tape is unnecessary. You got entire departments created for red tape.
It is time for a new
It is time for a new generation to step in, I mean young, bright and educated Caymanian people. And welcome expats - a small gene pool causes species to become extinct. The word "inept" is being used a lot here.... time to take it seriously...
In other local news, in a
In other local news, in a speech today and man who was in the stables at the time, but left the stables since, pointed out "The horse has bolted", referring to the escape of a horse which he was actively involved in keeping secure at the time but did not stop escaping. He continued "These are classic examples of how not to keep horses secure."
The greates enemy of the
The greates enemy of the human soul is the self righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation! Mr Ebanks prehaps needs to look around at the government in particular the civil service and the serious situation we are now in and rememeber who was incharge and who he appointed???? Just more sweet talk from the hypocrites
Waste? I am so upset with
Waste? I am so upset with the UDP government. The headlines: "CAYMAN ISLANDS DON'T WANT FOREIGNORS" What a headline! What a blow to the Cayman Islands reputation which our leaders have taken for granted! Waste? Waste is nothing compared to the message they sent to the world!!!
On the discussion as to
On the discussion as to whether Donnie could speak out: I agree he could not speak out publicly, but he could have spoken out internally but I could guarantee he did not. He wanted to keep his job and not offend anyone. That speaks about our state of development as much as it does about him. Unfortunately we have not evolved to the level of tolerating opposing views and, more, learning from them.
It is also about character. We have to be willing to stand for principle cost it what it will -- even a high paying job. That is why some people of character do not rise to the top of the civil service.
We can actually be concerned
We can actually be concerned about both, you know. There is actually a relationship between the two issues. Less waste, less need to tax.
Mr. Richard Coles pointed out
Mr. Richard Coles pointed out that there are governmental departments all over the world just like ours. They have no incentive to save money! If they don't spend all funds alloted, then their funds will be cut next year, thus they spend it all and ask for more. That, and a leader that has access to large sums of money with no checks and balances, is a recipe for financial disaster.
I think mr. Coles is a little
I think mr. Coles is a little out of touch. The finance management law had actually been introduced to stop that outmoded type of action that he described. I do agree, however, that the way the whole new regime was implemented was too sophisticated and may be even unnecessary for a small island government. I believe that the principles of the new system can be achieved in a less expansive fashion -- if we can get civil service managers to do their job in supervising staff. I must say however that the ethos of the organization tends to work against them mightily in that area.
Christ Almighty, Mon 13:51.
Christ Almighty, Mon 13:51. Coles did NOT say that. It was Weishan. When I read posts like yours I understand the intellectual component (ie limited) that is often in evidence in these posts on CNS.
Coles did say that if they
Coles did say that if they don't spend all funds alloted, then their funds will be cut next year, thus they spend it all and ask for more. He gave himself when he first arrived as AG as an example. Weishan amplified this.
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