Chief Secretary: Civil Servants can go to Rallies

The Hon. Chief Secretary,
George McCarthy

Friday,  April 29, 2005

The Hon Chief Secretary, George McCarthy, has stated that a memorandum dispatched in mid February captioned “Political Activities of Civil Servants and Employees of Statutory Authorities” was not intended to convey the message that civil servants should not be seen or heard at political meetings. 

Speaking with Cayman Net News about the document that would be applicable to a cadre of some 2,400 potential voters in the Cayman Islands, the Chief Secretary said, “Civil servants have a right to attend every political meeting. There should not be any anxiety on the part of any civil servant in attending any political meetings providing their behaviour at these meetings maintains (political) neutrality.”

Responding to information based on the contents of the memorandum that civil servants had expressed fears about being seen at political meetings, about being photographed at political meetings and about asking questions as members of the public at these meetings Mr McCarthy said, “No civil servant should be fearful about having his or her photo taken at a political meeting.”

Explaining the purpose and the contents of the memorandum Mr McCarthy said: “The memo sets out the terms of the civil service and the boundaries for civil servants in relation to participating in the political process. As civil servants we have to be neutral. We are here as public officers to serve the government of the day.”

The memorandum quotes Chapter 9 Section 18 of the June 2004 Revision of General Orders, and states, “Officers are expressly forbidden to participate actively on behalf of any party or candidate in any election to the Legislature. They are expressly forbidden to act as agents, sub-agents or canvassers at elections of this nature.”

The memorandum also says civil servants are expected to follow certain important criteria even though these items are part of only a draft document at present. A public servant must serve the government of the day in a way that ensures he maintains the confidence of the government, while also ensuring that he is able to establish the same professional and impartial relationship with future governments.

Clarifying the memo and adding a word of caution about participating in meetings, especially asking questions from the floor, Mr McCarthy said: “Raising certain questions can be perceived as supportive of a given candidate and may be construed as supportive of that candidate.”

Mr McCarthy added that the loyalty of a civil servant may be in doubt by the party that forms the government if questions asked by a civil servant at political gatherings might have been construed to be, or, were supportive of a particular candidate. 

Mr McCarthy said that the ideal situation was for “trust right across the board without there being doubt of a civil servant’s loyalty.”

Mr McCarthy acknowledged that item number #2, point (a) in the memo which reads: “It follows from the above that officers should not be actively involved in political meetings by speaking...” could be read to mean that civil servants would not be able to participate in meetings in the way that any other member of the public would by asking questions from the floor.
As well, item #3 of the memo also seemed to mean that civil servants were not allowed to participate as an ordinary member of the public in political activity as it stated, “Officers should also refrain from responding to “side-walk” surveys giving personal views to reporters on candidates or political issues.”

The second point in the draft Public Servant’s Code of Conduct included in the Public Personnel Management Bill stated, inter alia, “a public servant, as a member of the public, has the right to ensure that he is politically informed…”.

Asked whether civil servants’ questions from the floor to political candidates could not simply be viewed as part of the process of informing oneself, Mr McCarthy said, “In a small community like Cayman we (civil servants) have to be mindful of our position as public officers.”

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