Gidget Powell is Cayman Islands Government Employee of the Year
Assistant Collector of Customs Ms Gidget Powell, who has served in Her Majesty’s Customs for 26 of her 29 years in government service, is the Employee of the Year for 2014-2015.
Ms Powell, the Deputy Governor’s choice from among the 12 Employees of the Month, received her award from Hon. Franz Manderson at a ceremony hosted by Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick at Government House Thursday night (8 October 2015) to celebrate Government’s “ambassadors”.
Acknowledging his difficult task, the Deputy Governor congratulated all the 12 nominees for being superb role models for the entire civil service. “All of you are winners and have made us extremely proud. I thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, in serving the community,” Mr. Manderson said.
Passionate about promoting excellence in the civil service, the Deputy Governor introduced the Employee of the Year award in order to encourage every employee to go the extra mile in providing service. Now in its fourth year, the scheme continues to support his stated vision to “create a dynamic, modern, professional and respected civil service that supports good governance, serves the community and positively contributes to the economic and social development of the Cayman Islands.”
This year, the Deputy Governor faced a particularly tough task because of “a remarkable set of nominees for whom excellence is the norm,” Chief Officer in the Portfolio of the Civil Service, Ms Gloria McField-Nixon said. “These civil servants occupy the 90th percentile among their peers.”
To decide in the stiff competition, the Deputy Governor looked at individuals’ annual performance assessments, their impact upon the workplace, notably the cooperation, confidence, respect and optimism they embed within their workplace as well as convey to their clients.
In the end, Mr. Powell was selected Government’s third Employee of the Year for being named “Most Professional, Proficient, Knowledgeable, Courteous and Compassionate”.
Highlighting a few of the attributes that earned her the award, the Chief Officer said, “Gidget is known for her professionalism and proficiency whether interacting with staff, colleagues or the public. She exemplifies an extremely high work ethic and strives to lead by example.”

Nearly three decades ago, Ms Powell persevered by applying nine times to Customs to go after the job she sought, before being accepted. (She has been 29 years in government service, 26 of them in Customs.)This only strengthened her resolve and commitment to excellence that, if accepted, she would strive each day to prove herself worthy of the job. She has carried forward that resolve unremittingly over the years.
Also, she has extended to her colleagues and her team members the same commitment that she provides to the department’s customers and clients. Above all, she ensures that the lines of communication with her colleagues remain open, thereby encouraging them to similarly deal with their clients and colleagues.
Ms Powell has also ensured over the years that Government’s resources are not squandered but put to the best possible use, demonstrating her solid stewardship and, consequently, her value to the entire service.
Additionally, her warmth, compassion and concern for her colleagues have resulted in her championing their causes, including their better working conditions.
An emotional Ms Powell, who responded from her heart to the accolades, said she thoroughly enjoys her job and pledged to continue doing her very best.
“I’m elated, overwhelmed and honoured at receiving the award,” Ms Powell commented. She thanked all involved in the nomination process, notably the Customs management team for “their valuable, continued support, guidance and for believing in her”, as well as for their support and cooperation, the training manager, fellow assistants, senior and junior staff. “Because we are a team,” she added.
Bringing a winner’s perspective, last year’s awardee Ms Venice Tatum noted that criticisms about the civil service are oftentimes based on one person’s experience “or a customer’s expectation that may or may not be realistic”.
She urged civil service personnel that, instead of becoming disillusioned or cynical, to overcome negativity and maintain the highest standards possible. “We must always provide services in the manner in which we would like to be treated,” she commented. “We must never forget that we are the very public face of our beloved Cayman Islands. And we must never allow ourselves to forget that it is a privilege to be a Civil Servant,” she added.
“ I very happy, overwhelmed and honored to win the Deputy Governor’s- Civil Service Employee of the year 2014 – 2015 award, it means a lot to me.
It’s a pleasure and I am greatfull for the opportunity to work for the Government for the past 29 years and 26 years in Her Majesty Customs Service.
To my fellow receipts we are all winners.
I thank the Lord for giving me the strength and courage to perform my duties to the best of my ability and I will continue to do my best.
I thank everyone who was involved in the nomination process from the beginning, along with the Management Team of the Customs Dept. for their valuable continued support, guidance and believing in me.,
I would also like to thank the training manger, my fellow assistants, my seniors and junior staffs as we are a team; for their support and cooperation, and as we continue to do our best to serve the government of the day.
Thank you so much, and God Bless.”
Attendees at the event on the lawns of Government House included the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Minister Hon. Osbourne Bodden and top government officials.

Photo captions: Photos Bina Mani
Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, Cert. Hon. JP, presents Assistant Collector of Customs Gidget Powell the Employee of the Year 2014-2015 award at a ceremony at Government House on Thursday, 8 October 2015. In the end, Ms Powell scored over the other 11 Employees of the Month after being named “Most Professional, Proficient, Knowledgeable, Courteous and Compassionate”, the Deputy Governor said, acknowledging it was a really tough decision. Photos: Bina Mani, GIS

L-r: Financial Secretary Mr. Kenneth Jefferson, Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick, Ms Gidget Powell, Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, Collector of Customs Mr. Charles Clifford and Chief Officer Ms Gloria McField-Nixon
Chief Officer Ms Gloria McField-Nixon affixes a pin on Ms Gidget Powell, with the Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson.
With the other nominees and officials: l-r: Mr. Rohan Copeland, Mr. R. Tatum (for his father Mr. Witney Tatum), Mr. Corey Christian, Mr. Darwin Elvis Cook-Bodden, Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick, Employee of the Year Gidget Powell, Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson, Ms Stephanie Azan, Ms Thais Ducent, Mr. Matthew Hylton, Mr. Marlon Hodgson and Portfolio of the Civil Service Chief Officer, Ms Gloria McField-Nixon, JP. Missing from photo are Ms Donette Morris-Seymour, Ms Karen Dixon and Mr. Justin Ebanks.
An emotional Ms Gidget Powell responds to the honour.
Last year’s winner Ms Venice Tatum speaks.
Minister Hon. Osbourne Bodden congratulates Ms Powell.