The special attention that Assistant Collector of Customs Gidget Powell pays to serving the public has earned her the Deputy Governor’s Award for Employee of the Month for October 2014.

Her superiors describe the model civil servant of more than 26 years as “professional, proficient, knowledgeable, courteous and compassionate”, all in one breath. Meanwhile her staff respect that she consistently leads by example and encourages them to better themselves.

In her daily role as Airport Manager for Customs on Grand Cayman, Ms Powell is on-call and available for work 24/7. Her diligence also prompts her to check in on her staff, invariably during the airport’s busiest time and on holidays, to ensure operations are humming along smoothly.

An innate pride in her department and superb work ethic are apparent in all dealings with the public, with the result that her superiors routinely receive spontaneous accolades from the public and other government agencies on her work.

Presenting Ms Powell with the award, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson, Cert. Hon., JP, lauded her high calibre of professionalism and the leadership qualities that she displays in all aspects of her work life.

He also praised her for steadfastly upholding the department’s mission, which is to collect and protect revenue, facilitate passengers and legitimate trade, as well as to maintain effective border security.

In response, Ms Powell expressed her surprise and joy at receiving the award.

“I am deeply grateful to all who thought me deserving. This has certainly encouraged me to redouble my efforts in the service of my department, my colleagues, and the Cayman Islands Government as a whole,” she said. (GIS)

Photo captions: Information Officer Kristi Anderson

1. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson presented Assistant Collector of Customs Gidget Powell with the Employee of the Month award on Monday 8 December. L-R Senior Assistant Financial Secretary Anne Owens, Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson, Collector of Customs Samantha Bennett, Employee of the Month Gidget Powell, and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson.