The Minutes of the Deputy Governor and Chief Officer’s Meeting held on 24^th Sept. 2012 showed there had been a meeting in regards to the internal Public Service Management Law (PSML) review. The review had been conducted in 2008 by a subcommittee of Chief Officers and circulated earlier this year.

In February/March the Portfolio of the Civil Service (PoCS) examined the Review and assessed that of the 53 recommendations contained in the report, some 18 recommendations are complete or in progress, 16 recommendations are not agreed, 14 require further clarification and 9 recommendations are otherwise facilitated through other provisions in the Law.

Chief Officer (CO) McField-Nixon advised that this assessment had been conducted prior to her return and she said she would revisit the report to update the work plan.  It was agreed that a follow up meeting would be held to go through the remaining items in detail.

In January, 2011, the Cayman Islands Police Association (CIPA) issued a release following their December 2010 Annual General Meeting stating that although police officers are not considered to be civil servants under the PSML  the law continues to be cited and used when addressing issues such as salary.

The Association said it is “puzzling” that, although police officers are considered civil servants in some instances, they are not afforded the same or similar privileges as their colleagues in the wider civil service as provided under this law. Chairman Rudolph Gordon said the membership feels disenfranchised as “civil servants” and many of the labour and Human Resources (HR) issues facing his membership go unresolved.

The association has mandated to properly represent its membership, and as such the Joint Branch Board has supported an independent review of the Public Service Management Law (2010) to address the rights and privileges of police officers within the Cayman Islands.

No details have been given if the CIPA’s concerns have been covered and recommendations provided. The 16 recommendations not agreed by the PoCS have also not been disclosed.

Four Performance Agreement have been completed by Franz Manderson, the Deputy Governor, and commitments set out in the Crime Reduction Strategy and the Review of the Public  Service  are  being included in CO’s Performance Agreements.

The PoCS are compiling detailed monthly analysis of key HR data across the civil service at the Ministry/Portfolio level and will flag negative variances against the 2012/13 Budget.  The report monitors compliance in respect to headcount and HR-related expenditures.  CO McField-Nixon said that Chief Officers would receive this report on a monthly basis and going forward would be given an opportunity to comment upon variances.

Other items discussed were centralisation of the fleet, workshop on policy training and development, Employee of the Month nominees for August, reminder to CO’s to ensure all audited accounts are tabled in the legislative Assembly and the CIFEF student intern placements.

To view the whole of the Minutes of the Deputy Governor and Chief Officer’s Meeting go to: