Double honours for Commerce Ministry employee
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson (second from left) and Chief Officer Dr Dax Basdeo present Thais Ducent with her awards alongside Department of Commerce and Investment Director Ryan Rajkumarsingh (left) and Deputy Chief Officer Tamara Ebanks
(CNS): A business services officer in the Ministry of Commerce has been awarded both for her work in her department and in the civil service as a whole, for the month of May. Thais Ducent received the chief officer’s award as the ministry’s best employee, and the deputy governor’s nod as the top employee in the Cayman Islands Government.
Well-respected for her thorough knowledge of the business-licensing process, Ducent used that understanding to guide entrepreneurs through the relevant procedures and paperwork, through her job in the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI).
During his presentation, which took place 3 August, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said Ducent delivered exceptional service to her clients, especially in regards to the third annual Small Business Expo held earlier this year.
“It is clear that Thais undertakes her assignments with a passion, as she is well-organised, methodical and pays close attention to detail,” he said. “She was named most efficient by her department in executing her duties, especially in a supervisory role for the expo, which has been labelled the most successful to date.
“She kept staff and vendors alike equally informed on all matters and pleased all stakeholders by producing a well-run and coordinated event.”
DCI officials estimate that 700 people came through the doors at the Family Life Centre in April for the one-day event.
The chief officer of the ministry, Dr Dax Basdeo, said that, aside from the expo, Ducent has performed consistently well in assisting customers with their licensing needs.
“Each member of DCI’s staff has key roles in fostering a positive business environment, and they regularly go beyond the call of duty to assist the public in licensing their local commerce activities,” Basdeo said. “In Thais’ case, her technical knowledge, communication skills, and approach to customer service are outstanding.
“However, she also understands the spirit of DCI’s activities, and not just the policy and legal guidelines. This is what makes her an exceptional staff member; and she certainly deserves both the chief officer’s and the deputy governor’s awards,” he said.
In June, Ducent moved from DCI to the ministry, as the business services officer post that she filled was renamed Ministry of Commerce policy adviser.
She still works closely with DCI, however, and she says assistance from her DCI colleagues continues to be vital to her success.
“I am so grateful to have received these awards, especially knowing that I work among others who are equally deserving of it,” Ducent said. “I consider it an honour to serve in my role, and I am proud of the work that I do.
“My colleagues have been a huge blessing; I am indebted to them for supporting me and making it easier for me to get my job done.”
DCI Director Ryan Rajkumarsingh nominated Ducent for both awards, pointing to her teamwork skills as a deciding factor.
“DCI is a small unit that thrives on the cooperation and commitment of all our team members,” Rajkumarsingh said. “Despite facing daunting tasks, such as coordinating the expo, Thais did an exceptional job of managing resources and coordinating our activities so that we could deliver exemplary service to our clients.”
Category: Civil Service
