MRCU officer catches top employee award
Employee of the Month Leonardo Rodriguez (front, third from right) is surrounded by MRCU staff and flanked by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson (right) and Ministry of Health and Culture chief officer Jennifer Ahearn, with (far left) MRCU director Dr William Petrie
(CNS): Leonardo Rodriguez, from the Ministry of Health and Culture, is the Cayman Islands Government Employee of the Month for May 2016. He was recognised for being most effective and responsive – traits that are critical in his position as the disease prevention officer with Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU). Rodriguez manages a team of four that monitors and controls swamps and disease-carrying mosquitoes.
In addition to going on site to swamp areas and pasture lands, he collects the light traps daily and also monitors rainfall and tide information which assist MRCU in making decisions for mosquito control on a national level.
He undertakes fogging exercises in the evenings to assist in reducing the number of mosquitoes, which is especially significant during the rainy season. In addition, he responds to complaints from the public and works towards finding solutions for customers.
“I am very pleased that Leonardo has been selected for this award. He is a reliable employee who takes pride in his work,” said MRCU director Dr William Petrie.
“Leo consistently does the extra work needed to get the job done, whether it’s staying behind to clear something at Customs or making sure a specific task in the field has been completed, to ensure the issue doesn’t carry over to the next day,” he said.
Rodriguez takes the time to communicate with people, detailing the particular mosquito issue and recommending the best way forward, said a government press release. One of his strengths is the very short response time in dealing with mosquito complaints/reports, meeting with people on-site to inspect the issue-at-hand and to determine the best solution possible.
Jennifer Ahearn, chief officer of the Ministry of Health and Culture, praised Rodriguez for being a team player.
“Leo has been with MRCU for over 20 years and during that time, he has gone from strength to strength. I had the pleasure of working with him during my time at MRCU and witnessed first-hand his professionalism, his dedication to the department, his job and his willingness to go the extra mile. This award is well deserved, and I’d like to extend my sincere congratulations to Leo.”
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson thanked Rodriguez for demonstrating such a remarkable level of performance and commitment to the Cayman Islands Government. “Communication is such an important part of our respective jobs in the civil service, and the way you take the time to explain to customers how they can make a difference in controlling these Islands’ mosquito problems is fantastic. It shows your commitment to your position and the development of these islands,” he said.
“Mr Rodriquez, you serve as a role model for all Cayman Islands civil servants. It is obvious that customers are at the heart of everything you do. Your actions play a key role in the well-being of everyone in the Cayman Islands and we sincerely thank you for your efficiency and responsiveness.”
The Deputy Governor’s Award Programme was developed as an internal award scheme to recognise civil servants who exceed expectations.
Category: Civil Service
