Dr Derrick Binns Named New Cabinet Secretary
[Updated with video] Dr Derrick Binns was sworn in at Government House today [Dec 2] as the new Secretary to the Cabinet. He replaces Donald Scott, who retired at the end of November 2013.
The position has previously been described as chief policy adviser to the Premier of Bermuda, with oversight responsibility for all aspects of government operations and its delivery of public services to the Bermuda community and its international partners.
According to his profile on the Sargasso Sea website, Dr Binns was educated at Prospect Primary School and then at Saltus Grammar School.
Upon completing the Saltus senior year programme, Dr Binns earned a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Psychology from Johns Hopkins in 1981. He then earned Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies of Adelphi University in 1983 and 1986 respectively.
Following an internship at the George Washington University Medical Center and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Georgetown University Counseling Center, Dr Binns returned to Bermuda to serve as the first Psychologist for Prisons in 1986.
In 1996, Dr Binns joined the National Drug Commission as a Research Officer, and in 1997 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.
In August of 2001 Dr. Binns was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Services. Since then Dr. Binns has served as Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Community Affairs and Sport and the Ministry of Works and Engineering, Assistant Cabinet Secretary (Policy) at the Cabinet Office, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, and the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy.
Dr. Binns, a Registered Psychologist, is a member of the Bermuda Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Update 1.13pm: The Government said the post is effective today, and described the position as “the most senior Civil Servant position.”
“Dr. Binns will oversee the Cabinet Office, the government department that provides administrative and management support to the Premier; the Cabinet, and the government as a whole.
“In his role, the Cabinet Secretary chairs the Civil Service Executive (CSE), comprised of all Government Permanent Secretaries – the principal governing body of the Civil Service.”
Well, he’s certainly qualified. Best of luck to Dr. Binns in this role.
Congratulations Dr. Binns.
This is very refreshing. Dr Binns is highly respected and he knows how to get results!
Knows how to get results? Please provide some examples. From my experience he does not have the fortitude required to achieve a an increased standard of service within the public sector, and was simply appointed because he’s ‘served’ his time. His track record with the Ministry of Environment & Planning is questionable, and there are several examples of him unable to hold senior civil servants accountable for lack of results. I stand to be corrected.
A good appointment. Perhaps the first move he could make is to stop Government Departments having Christmas lunches paid for by the taxpayer this year.
Have Government Departments ever had Christmas lunches paid by the taxpayers?
Ours is and has done every year I’ve been here. Up to $50 each plus the rest of the day off.
Well sounds like you should report that to your Controller. Civis know that is agains Financial Instructions.
That was stopped a few years ago. I’m pretty sure it’s in all departments. I was a government employee and when this was stopped, the head of our department paid for our lunch out of her own pocket because she felt staff deserved it. Maybe your manager is also doing this and the staff aren’t aware and think Gov’t is still paying for it? I’m pretty sure a stop was put to it in ALL departments.
When I was in government, the staff all contributed their own funds to pay for Christmas lunches.
Very good decision. Dr. Binns is very professional. Congrats
Congratulations to Dr Binns, he’s taken up a huge portfolio at a difficult time, especially with the possible reforms outlined in the SAGE Report. Interesting times.
Bernews, is there any news about who is taking over as PS for the Ministry of the Environment & Planning?
yes everyone want to know.
An excellent choice!
GOOD LUCK PS BINNS….
yup double the pay, double the benefits, double the pension. Job for life CS has a better deal than even the private sector….and I gotta pay for alla dat. Where else in the world can a government CS Accountant or Permanent Secretary make mid 6 figures, fat pension and benefits…. only in Bermuda ;-( sad part is most of these fat cat CS characters won’t make it in the real world where performance counts. Yeah dress me up for work and I’ll look just as good as he does and perform on par or even better, for half the cost in salary, benefits, pension.
Good Luck to you Sir, its gonna get hot in the kitchen!
Mid six figures? Ahhhh, ummmm, math tutor anyone?
You’re such a negative person, nothing good to say about anyone .
That comment was directed at swing voter.
when you’ve been through the system of terror on even superficial levels of bureaucratic nasty bull-s**** Robert, let me know, I’m sure you’ll change your perception of the CS …..and by extension your perception of me.
mid six figures? since when? and what ‘real world’ are you referring to? did you not read his qualifications? he went to university for 10 years to get his PhD (mostly on scholarship) and has worked tirelessly ever since to get to the position he is in today. I’m not sure what type of performance you’re looking for but to me that sounds like he has over performed in every situation imaginable. It’ll get hot in the kitchen, and if anybody can handle it, it’s him. Sit back and watch.
Well I guess you all don’t know Dr. Binns, he is a joke(and that’s been nice) he has NEVER done a dam thing for his staff, he makes the money, kiss the a@#es, I promise you all he didn’t do nothing for us!! if you don’t believe me call his current departments you may all be surprise……Dr. Binns be a man and do right by your people if you really care! then again you don’t cause its been 4yrs and you never listen to us.
His wife is also a government employee…isn’t that a conflict of interest???
Some of the Civil Servants retiring or about to,are getting $200,000 + golden handshakes and $6,000 per month pensions.We taxpayers are paying for this.Look at the economic state and the future prospects for Bermuda,and think that some of those aforementioned are partly responsible.In the private sector that would not happen.The Premier needs to grow a pair and do what is right,before we become another Greece.
As for Mr.Binns,a better person could not have been found!
Congratulations Derrick.
lol – this is the same fella that messed up the Prison System –
He tried all these crazy untested ideas at WestGate and almost everyone failed. [ lol ]
I hope he does a better job here!
congrats uncle derrick!
Ex-employee is correct, this was not a good appointment.
Dr. Binns lacks the conviction to make difficult decisions, and has shown himself to be more interested in protecting his salary and career than representing the public interest. Appointments such as this are exactly why the civil service is in the state it is. We need people who are serving the public, not themselves.