No Longer a'Civil Servant,' but Still in Service
Miss BettyEbanks, a former civil servant, has a heart for people.
For most people, 29 years inany career would speak volumes about employee dedication. In thecase of Betty Ebanks, however, 29 years as a civil servant iseclipsed by her lifetime of service to the Cayman Islands.
When she is asked to talk about it, however, she hesitates. "Ireally don't know why," she insists, laughing. "I justlike working with people."
Miss Ebanks, known to many as "MissBetty," retired as Assistant Secretary in the Ministry ofHealth and Information Technology in December 2000. However, during2001 she has continued to work for the ministry on a part-timebasis. Throughout her career as a civil servant her work alwayskept her quite busy, yet she made time for her community of WestBay, particularly its youth.
They have been one of Miss Betty's principalfoci for more than 30 years, primarily through the Duke of Edinburgh'sAward Scheme and the Girls' Brigade, two civic-oriented associationsthat allowed her to do one of the things she loves best help people achieve their potential. "While we need to encourageeveryone, we need to pay particular attention to the youth, becausesometimes they don't realise that they can accomplish much morethan what they are doing," she explains.
"All it takes is a little interestfrom adults. If we don't show them the good things to do in life,they will do the bad. And if we help them, we help the Islandsas a whole."
Now, however, she's handed most of thoseresponsibilities to other adults; indeed, to some of her formercharges. It's the result of concluding, after much thought andprayer, that she needed to take better care of herself, her homeand her parents, Mr. Arthur and Miss Lill Ebanks.
"I retired because of them," sheacknowledges. "It was a difficult decision to make becauseI was very happy with my job, but I feel it was the right thingto do. As far as I'm concerned, they took care of me when I couldn'teven wipe my nose."
This kind of loyalty and compassion part of the value-system by which Miss Betty strives to live also influenced her civil service, which began in 1971 with thethen-George Town Hospital. Miss Betty was one of the first radiographers.
She recalls those times: "We went throughso much. All of the X-ray film was hand processed nothingwas automatic as it is now. And we couldn't mess around becausepeople's lives were in our hands. In those days almost every accidentthat occurred affected you personally, as more than likely youknew who was involved.
"But the difficulties brought doctors,nurses and auxiliary staff together. We were all so close andco-operated so well. In the X-ray Department, if there were amajor accident, even off-duty staff members would come to help."Highlights of her hospital career, she recalls, included her involvementwith the department's renovation and the introduction of ultrasound a technique commonly used today.
After 15 years at the hospital, Miss Bettydecided to go into the administrative side of health. In 1986she became the Assistant Secretary in what was then called thePortfolio of Health, Education and Social Services. While thereshe received instruction as a departmental trainer, which allowedher to assist in training younger civil servants. "I havefond memories of those sessions," she says, "becauseI could pass on my civil service values and experience to others."
On occasion, Miss Betty also acted as SeniorAssistant Secretary and Permanent Secretary. Moreover, duringthis time she received her Master's Degree in Business Aadministrationfrom the University of Miami, for which she is grateful to thegovernment for sponsoring.
Miss Betty stayed in the portfolio throughseveral name variations, as well as changes in the elected ExecutiveCouncil members and Permanent Secretaries. Speaking in particularof her final six years in the service, Miss Betty comments, "Allof us in the Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, Drug Abuse Preventionand Rehabilitation worked very hard. But a tremendous team spirithelped us to accomplish so much, and we laughed a lot.
"In that type of work there are somany critical issues and sometimes you just had to have a goodlaugh. A sense of humour will carry you through many hard times,"she asserts, "and if you don't have some fun while you work,it doesn't make sense to do it."
Throughout her life, as Miss Betty has helpedothers, she has learned a lot about herself and life. For starters,persons should think about themselves a little more. "Becommitted," she says, "but you have to know how to takecare of yourself. You can't give your all, you know? If you don'ttake care of yourself you won't be able to help anybody."
Second: honour your parents. "Theyreally influenced my life," Miss Betty asserts. "Daddygave my sisters and I a lot of confidence; he was an optimist.He'd say, 'study hard and work for it you'll get it.' Wewere poor as church mice, but I was privileged to have been borninto that family."
And this: choose wisely. "If you choosewisely, you can be happy in any circumstance," she counsels.
Yet as she reflects about her career andcommunity service, Miss Betty says there is one essential thatembraces all of her life learnings, and that is faith. Christhas been her stabiliser, a source of personal development andher principles. "I couldn't have done anything without Him,"she acknowledges. "And the church is where I began to findmy organisational skills as a leader and teacher.
"I've been fortunate in life,"she continues. "People have taught me and shown me the powerof principles. I've learned so much from them and I try to returnthat gift by my example. I'm not saying I'm a perfect person,because I don't think that I am. But when it comes to the wayI want to live my life, those values are there."
From the community perspective, as the CaymanIslands adapts and sometimes squirms in response toexternal and internal pressures, she still hangs her hat on principlesas a stabiliser. "We can't go scampering off to be like everyoneelse," she insists. "We need to look seriously at whatwe are doing as a people.
"We are a small country, and thereforeeveryone should contribute whatever they can to ensure that theCayman Islands retains its identity as a progressive country,yet one which is unique and rooted in strong Christian standards."
Miss Andrea Bryan, Permanent Secretary inthe ministry, has observed that Betty is the consummate civilservant. "Not only does she embody a high degree of professionalism,but she is a committed worker and absolutely loyal to the service.She has led others by her example and many of the younger generationin the civil service have been positively impacted by her values.
"I was truly blessed to have Bettyas a co-worker and part of the ministry team because of her strongvalues," Miss Bryan said. "However, what I'll remembermost about her is her merry giggle and the ability to laugh herway through the most challenging and sometimes, frustrating situations,of which there were many during her tenure in the ministry. MayGod bless you, Betty, in all your future undertakings."