Govt. Appoints Francis, Whitter, Robinson-James
Today, the Cabinet Secretary and Head of Civil Service, Dr. Derrick Binns announced new appointments among the senior ranks of the Civil Service, with William Francis, Cherie Whitter and Valerie Robinson-James all taking on new roles.
Dr. Binns advised that Ms. Cherie Whitter has been formally appointed as the Deputy Head of the Civil Service, and will primarily be responsible for leading the Public Service Reform initiative.
The Cabinet Secretary also advised that the Ministry of Education & Economic Development has been assigned two Permanent Secretaries to “provide the necessary executive leadership and to manage the needs of the mega-Ministry.”
Mrs. Valerie Robinson-James will serve as the Acting Permanent Secretary for Education. Mrs. Robinson-James, who until recently served as the Director of Statistics, takes over the Permanent Secretary responsibilities following the recent resignation of former Permanent Secretary Ross Webber – who is set to become the new CEO of the Bermuda Business Development Agency.
Mr William Francis will assume the role of Permanent Secretary for Economic Development. Mr. Francis has a wealth of knowledge in the technology field, having served as the Permanent Secretary for the former Ministry of Telecommunications and E-Commerce.
Left – Right: William Francis, Cherie Whitter and Valerie Robinson-James
Today the Cabinet Secretary said, “As the community is aware, last year, Government underwent a structural change which resulted in a reduction of Ministries.
“Additionally, in an effort to ensure that the public service was operating at optimum efficiency a decision was made earlier this year to embark on a Public Service Reform initiative. Each of these steps were taken to ensure a more efficient, streamlined and nimble Government.”
Dr. Binns continued, “Public Service Reform is aimed at improving the way that the service works so that government can deliver better, more efficient services to its citizens. As I have noted, Public Service Reform requires a shift in our corporate culture and a readiness for public servants at all levels to serve and lend their expertise in new areas of Government.
“The reassignments at the senior Civil Service level are intended to ensure that a strong emphasis is devoted to ensuring that these very important areas of Government receive the critical focus and attention they deserve.
“It is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to not only reforming the public service, but it is a demonstration of our commitment to the people of Bermuda by ensuring that they receive the best service possible so that their needs are met.
“I am confident that these individuals who have been appointed to these key posts will serve the Government very well. I wish them every success and look forward to their contributions to public policy initiatives.”
Ms. Whitter’s and Mr. Francis’ posts are effective immediately, while Mrs. Robinson-James assumes her duties as of May 5.
Mr. Webber will continue his service until 11th July and during that time he will provide transitional support to Mr. Francis and Mrs. Robinson-James. Dr. Binns expressed his gratitude to Mr. Webber for his leadership and service, and wished him every success in his future endeavours.
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the 9-lives crew!
I am glad to see Bermudians excel and take up senior positions within government and the various quangos.
Why don’t we see such Bermudian representation within the senior ranks in the private sector, especially IB? Yes, there are numerous Bermudians in senior positions (in the private sector), but not in the same proportion as the senior positions in Government.
This is likely because to advance in the private sector requires going above and beyond your job description, and often working overtime. In my experience, many Bermudians are not willing to do extra work for the same pay. Let me emphasize ‘in my experience’ because I have obviously not met all Bermudians, but this is true of most that I have worked with.
Said like only a person who hides behind a pen name can say.
Put your name against your words so that the Bdians that you work “with” can see you AND your opinion.
It’s cowardly to do otherwise
Oh be quiet will you!!!
Not giving your name doesn’t make your point any less valid!
Your name, Lauren Bell, means absolutely nothing to me as I don’t know you. I can write my comment under the name John Smith, or Jane Doe or Sue Brown but that doesn’t mean that’s who I really am. I can even say I’m Lauren Bell for that matter!
People like you always use that boring “use your own name” line when you have no strong rebuttal!!!
Bear in mind that many senior positions in the civil service are held by person’s who do not necessarily have all the proper requirements to suit that position other than years in a leading position. The IB sector will be specific as to what qualifications they want for a person to have in a senior position and that pool may be very limited in Bermuda. Government hires people to lead people who should know their job. The IB hires people that know (i.e. all about insurance) the ins and outs of the whole company and that is their specialty.
We do have an increasing amount of talented and highly qualified Bermudians in Executive roles in IB. Darren Johnson CEO PWC, Patrick Tannoc President of XL Bermuda, Gil Tucker CEO Ernst and Young, Anthony Philips CEO of AIG in Bermuda, Rees Fletcher President of ACE Bermuda ,Terry Pitmental President of Arch Bermuda, Joe Rego CEO Aon Bermuda just to name a few and there are several others in the executive suites as CFO’s, Chief Underwriting Officers and Executive Vice Presidents.
These Bermudians are responsible for significant operations and there are many, many more Bermudians in senior positions in IB. IB needs to a better job letting Bermuda know how the demographics are evolving.
Well said.
And the women –
Carla Greaves
Sherron Williams
Kathy Duffy
Tracey Berkeley
Michelle Seymour Smith
Leah Dean
All holding C-Suite positions…we do need to do a much better job of letting people know what these guys have accommoplished through sheer hard work and perseverence.
Congratulations to all! So happy to see Mr Francis continue to assist the present government with his wealth of knowledge and experience.
Because IB is a business.
Government is for friends and family.
Simple.
IB makes money for profit.
Government taxes and still run a debt.
Irony.
I thought the Civil Service was cutting back. Oh, I see just the workers, more hierarchy. Why can’t the Head of the Civil Service assume the role of Public Service Reform? Civil Service and Public Education establishments like Bermuda College, should be asking themselves, what business are we in? It would appear bureaucracy remains the name of the game. Two Permanent Secretaries??? I wonder if either of these individuals are educators.
I hope Valerie-Robinson James does a better job with this than with the last census. Her staff absolutely butchered it.
I believe it was Minister Richards who expressed concern with how accurate it was.
He was right.
Didn’t Mrs. Robinson-James preside over our massive Census debacle in 2010??
Yeah, she did preside over that mess. I know for a fact because I worked there. She is big on delegating but sometimes duties get delegated to the wrong people. She also doesn’t listen to the ‘little people’-i.e. those without fancy letters after their names. However, sometimes you can have all kinds of fancy degrees but no common sense which is where we ‘little people’ come in.
I was a temp during the census and right away knew it wasn’t going to be done on time. Us ‘little people’ suggested conducting all surveys over the phone in the interest of time but did anyone listen? NO. Then when it was clear time was running out, what did they do? ALL surveys over the phone just like we ‘little people’ suggested-and acted like it was all the big shots’ idea! I could tell some stories about that place but it wouldn’t get printed-it was a nightmare.
The only saving grace is that she did start out as a teacher and still acts like one so maybe it’s a good fit for her.
Part of the problem was that at the very beginning of the census she was transferred to act as the P.S. of another Gov’t department. I can’t remember which department but she was filling in for Wayne Carey. It was stupid of TPTB to have moved her at the very beginning of a major census when she should have been there cracking the whip (figuratively of course) to get it done.
I worked on the census and a lot of mistakes were made but I don’t think they can all be pinned on her, especially if she wasn’t even there when needed. The next census is set for 2015 (next year) so I can only hope they learned from the mistakes that were made and that her replacement is up for the job.
I think she’s a good fit for education as she is an educator herself; it’s where she made her start. She has a reputation of being strict but I found her to be very fair and she was always up for a good laugh when she had the time-every now and then that playful side would come through! I wish her well in her new post.
Looks like recommendations by the SAGE Commission are benefitting some …. Still some people who supported SAGE are now against upward mobility by people who have worked hard and proven their ability . I tell you , can’t please everyone so you might as well please yourself .
The Peter Principle is alive & well in the Bermuda Civil Service.
What would most of them ever do if they were thrown out into the real world of the private sector?
Are you telling us that NO educators wanted the position as education PS?
I understand about transferrable skill set, but no educators wanted and/or were uniquely qualified to become this ministry’s PS?
And another commentator made a very valid point, Mrs Robinson-James presided over an enormous debacle on our once every decade General Census, and we should be registering the cost to the taxpayer of that debacle in funds (to re-work the mistakes and/or overtime), the fact that that official document cannot be relied upon, or conversely, viewed with a high level of scepticism notwithstanding that it’s an essential document relied upon by key agencies such as, Fitch, IMF, etc., and she gets promoted to education?
Come-on Dr Gibbons, you guys need to grow some b@lls here! It’s beginning to look and feel like an insider’s club at PSC of retaining senior civil servants – and the silence on the hiring PROCESS of Dr Heatley is not very helpful – but at whose expense, their subordinates who will eventually be made redundant in accordance with SAGE?
Bluntly, she should be retired NOT promoted or given a lateral move. You are setting into motion another future debacle as educators will not be falsely pacified and/or deceived.
It’s time to get it right at the PSC or replace the members on that Commission.
London, England