Michael Ebanks – New Deputy Chief Officer for MHRI

The Ministry of Human Resources and Immigration is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Ebanks as the new Deputy Chief Officer for its Security and Public Safety Division.

Mr. Ebanks’ civil service career spans over a decade, starting as a detective for the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D.) Specialist Operations Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) in 2007, where he dealt with a variety of major incidents and high-profile criminal investigations.

In 2010 he began work as an analyst/administrator for the Commissions Secretariat, where he was responsible for policy development and conducting inquiries on matters concerning ethics in the public office, human rights, and anti-corruption issues.

Mr. Ebanks then joined the former Ministry of Home Affairs in 2015 as an Assistant Chief Officer. During his first year in the position, he co-led the implementation of cyber-security reforms and helped coordinate special projects, legislative reforms and public policy on matters of national security and public safety.

In 2016 he was appointed as the Acting Deputy Chief Officer and was later honored for his achievements when chosen as the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Employee of the Year.

Recently, Mr. Ebanks served as an expert on Border Security at the CARICOM Regional Counter-Terrorism Strategy meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. Locally, Mr. Ebanks contributes to the work of the eGovernment Steering Committee, the Digital Identity Sub-Committee, and the Policy Group of the National Emergency Operation Centre.

He received a bachelor of arts degree in education from the University of North Florida, and later earned a master of science degree in criminal justice from Florida Metropolitan University.

“I am humbled by the confidence placed in my abilities by the Deputy Governor and the Chief Officer, and I am proud to continue supporting the vision of a World-Class Civil Service,” Mr. Ebanks remarks. “It is an energizing experience to help lead the exploration of cutting-edge and sustainable models for the delivery of public services. As DCO for the Ministry, a key focus will be to ensure that we are keeping the customer at the heart of service design and service delivery.”

“I welcome Mr. Ebanks to the post of Deputy Chief Officer,” Deputy Governor and Head of the Civil Service, Hon. Franz Manderson says. “The dedication he brings to his job is exceptional, and his commitment to promoting the vision, mission, and values of the Cayman Islands Government is excellent.”

Chief Officer for the Ministry of Human Resources and Immigration Wesley Howell said he is proud to announce the new appointment.

“Mr. Ebanks is known for his leadership skills and passion to serve his fellow civil servants and the people of this country,” Mr. Howell states. “With his background and experience, I am confident he will continue to be an invaluable asset to the Ministry, and contribute to the further development of the civil service and the Cayman Islands.”

“For me, service to the country is about sustainability. Coupled with the services that we deliver, public servants also help build community, democracy, and national prosperity. In this sense, my journey in public service has been a privilege underscored by opportunities to improve service quality, enhance the experience of our customers, and strengthen the security of the Islands,” Mr. Ebanks adds.