Tatum brothers shine at Fire Service
(CNS Local Life): Two bothers from Cayman Brac are among three Caymanians who have been promoted to divisional managers in the Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS). Dwight Randy Rankin is the new divisional manager for domestic on Grand Cayman. Whitman Tatum, who spent most of his career at the Cayman Brac station, is now DM for aviation on Grand Cayman. His brother, Witney Tatum, is now DM for aerodrome and domestic on Cayman Brac, with additional responsibility for Little Cayman. They took over their new roles 15 July, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced Thursday in a press release.
The promotions are the direct result of the career progression strategy the CIFS and the Ministry of Home Affairs have continued to implement over the past two years, stated a press release.
The strategy focuses on providing leadership training opportunities for those in CIFS hoping to advance to more senior roles. In his new position, Rankin will assist the Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Domestic) in strategic leadership, readiness and delivery of emergency fire and rescue services for Grand Cayman. With 26 years’ experience serving in the CIFS, Rankin is both an academically and technically proficient fire officer, the release stated. He holds an associate’s degree in public administration from the Civil Service College, furthered his studies at Florida State Fire College and the Fire Service College in London.
Whitman Tatum will assist with the management of the aviation division and provide aerodrome firefighting and rescue services at Owen Roberts International Airport. During his 23-year career with CIFS, he has worked on all three islands. Originally from Cayman Brac where he was most recently based, he moved to Grand Cayman to take up his new job.
Witney Tatum will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of both critical services in the Sister Islands. With a total of 32 years’ experience, he has worked across the Cayman Islands as well as in the UK.
Commenting on the recent appointments, Chief Officer for the Ministry for Financial Services and Home Affairs, Dr Dax Basdeo said that he was pleased to be able to fill the positions internally. “An individual’s suitability for the role remains the highest priority when the Ministry selects a candidate at the conclusion of a recruitment exercise,” he said. “We are pleased to see that the investment we’ve made in professional development and training has helped our officers compete in recruitment exercises with confidence as promotion opportunities become available.
“We are striving to ensure that the most suitable individuals are identified as part of fair and transparent processes across all recruitment exercises for posts in the Fire Service.”
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Category: Civil Service, Fire Service, Local News
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