Director of Public Works Department, Mr. Max Jones is the top Head of the Department in the Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure Ministry for the 2016-2017 financial year.

The award was announced and presented at a meeting of Heads of Departments in the ministry by the Ministry Chief Officer, Mr. Alan Jones. The meeting was held recently at the PWD Training Room on the PWD Compound on North Sound Road.

Presenting a plaque, Chief Officer Jones lauded the PWD chief’s “flexible, accommodating, dynamic and open-minded” approach to his job. “He is very solution-minded in his approach to opportunities and he believes that if something needs to be done, he will find a way to do so,” the Chief Officer added. The award also included a certificate for the Cayman Mac Store.

For his part, the PWD Director expressed being deeply honoured at his peers choosing him for the award in the past year. He said, “I am delighted to receive the Director of the year award, but that was only possible because I am supported by excellent staff and an excellent department. So this is really an award for the entire department and my thanks go out to all those PWD employees who work hard every day and strive to provide excellent services to our client Ministries and departments and to the Cayman Islands Public.”

Sidebar: Mr. Max Jones: A Veteran at PWD

Earning top HOD of the Year at the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure is quite a feat and Director of the Public Works Department, Mr. Max Jones was both humbled and elated at receiving this honour for the past financial year.

During his 35 years’ service at PWD, following a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering, Mr. Jones advanced from Executive Engineer Buildings to the position of PWD Deputy Director and eventually, Director, a post he has held for the last 12 years.

The department’s many successes reflect his hard-work and management over the years.

One such is the noticeable improvement in Public Works Department’s customer service. A recent customer satisfaction survey that was used to garner feedback proved this fact. The results showed that regarding the last 207 work orders executed by PWD, 95% of customers stated that they were very satisfied or better.

Another contribution by Mr. Jones’ has been a focus on professional development for young Caymanians.

This year six CIFEC students received the opportunity to pursue an internationally recognised certification. They did this by working at PWD three times a week (during the school year). Twice a week the students learned practical skills alongside qualified PWD professionals in the field, while once a week they gained theoretical expertise in the training room. In late July, they will sit an examination for receiving an internationally-acclaimed City and Guilds Vocational Level 1 Certification.

Another achievement in which Mr. Jones takes pride was the establishment of a PWD Employee Welfare Association. Presently, 69 employees are benefiting from the availability of a new insurance policy which includes group life and accident coverage.

Photo captions: Photos by Bina Mani, GIS

1. From left: HODs and CO: Director of Facilities Management Unit, Mr. Troy Whorms; DVES Director, Mr. Richard Simms; Assistant Director of Planning, Mr. Ronald Sanderson; PWD Director Mr. Max Jones; who was awarded Head of the Department of the Year award; Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure Chief Officer, Mr. Alan Jones; Department of Commerce and Investment Director, Mr. Ryan Rajkumarsingh; Computer Services Department Director, Mr. Simon Spiers and E-Government Unit Director, Mr. Ian Tibbetts. Not present: Director of Planning, Mr. Haroon Pandohie.