Biographies
Chief Immigration Officer
Linda M. Evans was appointed to the post of Chief Immigration Officer on the 6th September 2009. She was previously employed as a Deputy Chief Officer in the Portfolio of Internal & External Affairs for 2 = years. Prior to rejoining government in 2007, she worked in the private sector for almost 6 years in the role of Human Resource Manager.
As Chief Immigration Officer, Ms. Evans is responsible for all immigration matters and for developing strategic plans to advance the Department's mission and objectives and to administer and enforce equity in the provisions of the various Laws that govern the Immigration Services to all who live and visit these Islands. She is responsible for the overall management and performance of the Immigration Department as well as the Visa, Passport and Corporate Services in order to make a meaningful contribution to the achievement of Government's goals for effective social harmony, law and order, the protection of Caymanians in the workplace and the fair treatment of our migrant population.
Ms. Evans earned a MBA Degree from the University of Tennessee with a concentration in Organizational Management. She also holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Miami with double majors in Finance and Economics.
Deputy Chief Immigration Officer (Enforcement and Intelligence)
Garfield Wong has been employed with the Immigration Department for over 26 years, working in just about every aspect of the Immigration Department, his most recent post being that of the Assistant Chief Immigration Officer for Visas/ Student Visas.
He was very instrumental in the screening of the Cuban Refugee crisis which we experienced in 1994, and was tasked with making the determination of who qualified for refugee status whist working in the Enforcement Section.
He has direct responsibility for the Enforcement and Intelligence Unit and is required to maintain and develop sustainable polices for arrest procedures, use of force, systems for presenting offenders to court, investigative operations, removals, deportation and asylum matters.
Deputy Chief Immigration Officer (Border Control)
Bruce D. Smith recently joined the Immigration Department after spending 20 years with HM Customs where the attained the rank of Assistant Collector.
He has direct responsibility for all Border Control matters including Airport, Seaports operations and visas. He also has oversight of the Department operations in the Sister Islands.
He received extensive training in Border Security having attended and successfully completed courses in the US, Canada and the Caribbean.
Director of Policy & Strategic Management
Christopher Eakin has worked at the Department of Immigration since 2000 and has held the position of Director of Policy & Strategic Management since 2006.
In his present capacity as Director of Policy & Strategic Management Christopher works on all aspects of policy formulation both internally and with the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs and Cabinet. He also oversees the Department's Appeals Section and Freedom of Information Unit and is a member of the Senior Management Team.
Mr. Eakin is a graduate of the Cayman Islands Law School (University of Liverpool Honours Degree in Law and postgraduate Professional Practice Course).
Director of Finance
Christine Mitchell has worked with the Immigration Department for over 15 years.
As the Director of Finance she is required to organize and direct the financial affairs of the Immigration Department and to ensure that all accounting and administrative matters are processed in accordance with the various laws and established guidelines.
She is the holder of an Associate of Science in Accounting from the University College of the Cayman Islands and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) from the University of Central Florida.
Director of Boards and Work Permits
Sherryl Miller joined the Immigration Department in the position of Immigration Boards Administrator in December of 2005. She was appointed Director of Boards and Work Permits in January 2009. Prior to being appointed to this post, Mrs. Miller worked in both the public and private sectors.
As Director of Boards and Work Permits Mrs. Miller has managerial oversight of the Secretariats that facilitate the Immigration Boards - Work Permit Board, Business Staffing Plan Board and Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board. She also oversees the Work Permit Administrators and the Temporary Work Permit Section.
Mrs. Miller holds a degree in Paralegal Studies from Madison University and has many years experience in this capacity.
Human Resources Manager
Mrs. Martha Ebanks-Bush joined the Department in June 2007 bringing a wealth of experience in Human Resources Management and Training.
Together with an Assistant Manager, they handle all HR related duties and issues. Additionally, Martha's section co-ordinates the presentation of technical training for Immigration Officers as well as Immigration Law related training for all staff. Mrs. Bush will deliver other training such as Management Development, Team Building and Customer Service.
Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Enforcement and Intelligence)
Mr Jeremy Scott has been employed by the Immigration Department since 1997 and has spent much of his career in the Enforcement Unit. Since November 2009 he has held the position of Acting Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Enforcement and Intelligence), a position that involves operational and management responsibility for the day-to-day activities of the Enforcement and Intelligence Unit. In this capacity Mr. Scott also has responsibility for operational oversight of asylum matters and the Immigration Detention Centre.
Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Visas)
Tamara Reid joined the Immigration Department in October of 1999 as a member of the Trade & Business Licensing Board Secretariat. She has since served in Border Control and her most recent attachment, in the Enforcement & Intelligence Section of the department.
In 2003 Ms. Reid achieved her first degree, an Associates of Arts in Social Studies from the University College of the Cayman Islands. In 2006 Ms Reid obtained a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University, with Cum Laude Honors. In 2008, she became the first Caymanian to obtain certification as an Intelligence & Crime Analyst by the United States California Department of Justice.
In early 2010, Ms Reid became the holder of an International Diploma in Compliance, which she obtained with Distinction, awarded to her by the International Compliance Association, in conjunction with the University of Manchester Business School.
Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Border Control)
Nicola Solomon has been employed with the Immigration Department since 1995. She holds the position of Acting Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Border Control) since November 2009, a position which involves day-to-day management of border control operations at the airport and seaport. During Miss Solomon's career with the Immigration Department she has also gained experience in the Joint Intelligence Unit, Enforcement Unit and immigration operations at the Department Headquarters.
Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Regulatory and Compliance)
Ms Jeannie Lewis has been employed by the Immigration Department since 1989. As Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Regulatory and Compliance), a position Ms Lewis has held since November 2009, she has responsibility for monitoring and evaluation of all services and procedures. In this capacity she also provides management support to the Chief Immigration Officer and her Deputies. Prior to this Ms Lewis was Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Enforcement), a position that involved management oversight of the Immigration Department's Enforcement Unit.
Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (Persons of Independent Means)
Mrs. Laura Mclaughlin has been employed with the Immigration Department for over 20 years. She has worked in many sections of the Department including Border Control and Enforcement.
She is responsible for the processing of applications for "Persons of Independent Means". These applications are for persons wishing to reside in the islands without the need to work.
Mrs. Mclaughlin also assists with the decision making process on Temporary Work Permits.
Appeals Coordinator
Petula Twinn joined the Immigration Department in 2007.
She heads the Appeals Section which has responsibility for preparing Appeal Statements in response to appeals against decisions by the four Immigration Boards - Work Permit Board, Business Staffing Plan Board, Caymanian Status & Permanent Residency Board and the Trade & Business Licensing Board.
Ms Twinn is also the Department's Freedom of Information Manager which involves processing applications for information submitted under the FOI Law and developing and implementing Departmental procedures and guidelines for the publication of information.
Ms Twinn is an Attorney-at-Law, having attained her LL.B.(Hons) from Liverpool University. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2002 and admitted to the Cayman Bar in 2004. Ms. Twinn is also a Florida Supreme Court certified Civil and Family Court mediator.
Last Updated: 2010-03-05
