YCLA revokes Watson’s gong
(CNS): In another indignity for disgraced local businessman and one time community leader, Canover Watson, the board of the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards have stripped him of the local gong given to him in 2007. Backbench MLA Roy McTaggart, who is chair of the board, said the award had been formally rescinded as the convicted fraudster’s conduct was “clearly unbefitting” of the badge of honour. Watson was convicted last week of five corruption charges, having been found guilty of stealing millions of dollars from the hospital in a corrupt scheme with his friend, Jeffrey Webb.
While it is unlikely that Watson took his Caymanite trophy with him to HMP Northward, McTaggart said it was a distinction that a recipient carried for many years.
“We regret that this decision was necessary,” he said, adding that the award was “a badge of honour” that implies the recipient would “uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct at all times, not simply for the year during which they carry the title. To receive the Award is to demonstrate that one has the character and moral fibre to serve as an example – at any age – to the younger generation.
He added, “Unfortunately, Mr. Watson’s recent conduct is clearly unbefitting of a YCLA recipient, and it is for this reason that we have retroactively revoked the 2007 Award.” he added.
In 2007 Watson beat Michael Joseph, Daniel Reid, Joannah Small and Nichelle Welcome. In his acceptance speech, he said life was about choices. “Choose to be your best in whatever you do and the world has no choice but to see you as the best,” he said at the time.
Category: Community, Local News
Isn’t it amazing how silent Whodatis is has been over the whole Watson conviction . . . . .
You know it is Tony Blair’s fault.
It’s amazing how you took the time to actually noticed that
u guys late appeal in what if he wins his appeal YCLA Look out you will have to give it back
I wish our immigration dept would be able to act so swiftly and strip convicted criminals of their Cayman status they were given, along with a immediate deportation back to where they came from!
It is able to. It just refuses to.
Problem. If the status holder renounces their former nationality and is considered to be a Caymanian citizen in full, (eg: not a dual passport holder) then by moving status you effectively make that person stateless, a crime under international law.
Why do you think the UK is powerless to withdraw passports from those who leave the UK to fight for IS, even though they are traitors and technically foreign combatants to their ‘home’ nation?
That’s what happens in a brave new world that allows mass migration, loyalty to your own or your adopted country accounts for nothing anymore. Some want to turn their back on their own people for tax purposes, some to make a better living, some to escape persecution, some to escape or make war.
Our international political elite have ensured that they are comfortable and their vested interests come first, couple them with the left wing thought police and professional offence takers and this is what we get, chaos. And the crazy thing is, we’re all so surprised that the world is in such a disastrous mess
And most would have accrued Article 8 rights which come above anything in local Cayman law or the Constitution.
Total nonsense. Caymanian is not a nationality, but an immigration status, and no one ever renounces their original nationality on being granted status.
And you can keep your fingers crossed during the naturalization ceremony.
Being naturalized and being Caymanian are generally unrelated. Many Caymanians are not BOTC’s and many BOTC’s are not Caymanian.
Yes, the behaviour of another Young Leader is questionable to say the least. He got what he wanted again though ( job for wife) and continues to pillage and plunder.
Pray tell give us a clue do.
Pillage and plunder, you say? How exciting. He is true to his pirate stock.
The time has come to discontinue the YCLA; it was always the case that to win you had to ‘have the nod’ and move in the right circles. I am only surprised all the losing contestants over the years haven’t compared experiences and realised they were just there to make it look like a genuine contest.
I can’t really take time out of trying to find a job to replace most recent redundancy, pay school fees for two kids and generally keep afloat to read all of the info, so indulge and assist me if you can…has there been any discussion regarding clawing back funds/assets of ill-gotten gains in Canover’s case?
If they find a bunch of teenagers driving Mommy’s car and one spliff is in it, the car is confiscated no? Just asking, really not interested in race or local vs expat related comments. Thanks in advance.
Doubt they can revoke it. Canover is and always will be Young Caymanian of 2007.
Only true if they do not give it to the runner up.
Did you read the article? “the board of the Young Caymanian Leadership Awards have stripped him of the local gong given to him in 2007.” It has been revoked. It is a done deal.
Have you a brain cell or two? The question is on what basis in the rules did they have the power to do this? The answer is they almost certainly did not have the power and the “revocation” is meaningless.
As was the award in the first place.
Same with pretty much every cabinet status grant.
They are relying on their inherent sense of self-importance and entitlement.
which are prerequisites to being on the committee.
YCLAs are the entitled specials. many of these no use people we did not l know before or after.
What a ridiculous churlish statement, especially as you probably don’t know any of them.
It’s the same as me saying that all expat bankers accountants and lawyers are a bunch of stuck up pricks, and that wouldn’t be true either would it…?
On what basis do they have the right to do that? There is no rule providing for rescission. What he did in 2012 is nothing to do with how he was judged in 2007.
There are others that have received the YCLA and if their character really be looked at they too should lose their YCLA. By the way would inappropriate behaviour/comments with minors as a church youth worker fall into the category of warranting a YCLA recipient to lose their award. Just asking.
Are you asking in advance, or for “a friend”?
Too bad Canover didn’t get an MBE. He’d have been able to keep that – just like all the other jailed crooks who keep theirs.
There is one who was found guilty but not jailed, he has kept his as a tool of continued deception.
So much crookedness and inappropriate behavior going on in the Cayman Islands these days.
It’s not just those in the lower income bracket but it’s being done by those who simply don’t need to be doing this. The almighty dollar is ruining the moral fabric of our community and turning us into a den of thieves or like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Caymanian and expats alike.
Name them, bobo @6:26. Apart from Desmond Seales, I can’t think of any.
I wish I was bold enough !
Good question. Plenty of people have inside knowledge. I can only name those I suspect, but have no proof, and CNS probably won’t allow that. I’d start with Cayman’s first hero JMB, but I bet that isn’t current enough. It’s not “these days”, Cayman’s always been full of people in positions of influence using it to line their own pockets shamelessly. Just everyone seems to be at it nowadays.
Not true. If the jail term is over a certain period the gong is returned or revoked. I think that period is about two years. Seales never served that long and kept his gong.
mickey mouse wears a YCLA wristwatch……
Well that has told him in the most little islander way imaginable.
This has absolutely NOTHING to do with racism! When an individual has committed a crime, black or white – wrong is wrong! And by the way…one shouldn’t have to win the YCLA award to set a good example for the younger generation and the community on the whole. If you are a reputable, honest individual these qualities should come naturally and should be demonstrated humbly and genuinely. We don’t have to be recognized for everything we do to give back to the community. Let’s be the change and invest in our young people by continuing to instill good morals/ethics in them and teach them that we are responsible for our own actions and for every action there’s a reaction that sometimes can cost us dearly. That’s why we are to make wise decisions and not get involved with people/things that we know are dishonest/wrong.
The biggest crooks and poor examples to Cayman’s youth are the politicians, pastors and political party loyalists who use their positions to pad their net eggs just like the disgraced Conover Watson
If in doubt look at the politically appointed boards and decisions made by all of them particularly XXXXX. The difference with Watson is that he got caught and faced charges many in the Caymans never do and never will.
Hear hear. The cronyism and corruption needs to stop. We are teaching a generation that if they get away with it, it is okay- it is not. Just work hard, donate your time to charity, and follow a true moral compass.
It is NOT okay to give contracts to your buddies or political cronies. All govt departments feel the pressure of those in power. Maybe it is time we moved to a city-council type govt?? Really, fix the roads and schools and leave the greed behind.
Here! Here! It happens everywhere but sadder for Cayman somehow maybe because we know the players and can’t do anything about it.
Nobody cares about YCLA .. It’s not known globally yawns can’t take it to the bank or brag that you have it. Nobody cares lol!!!
I assume you were not nominated then..?
What a waste of your time typing that, a pathetic posting.
You need to get out more mate. When you start commenting on the worth of what others say, well it’s kinda sad. (Go on, have that second glass of shandy, and damn the consequences!)
What a waste of your time typing that, a pathetic posting.
What a waste of your time, replying to that waste of time comment………..
It just gets funnier……
It does, doesn’t it? Now don’t waste you time responding to this comment. I am the winner.
I’m on company time and there’s plenty to spare.
whats next?…i heard they were going to revoke his particaption ribbon for his involvement in the 1999 mixed doubles tiddlywinks challenge…….
It is pettiness and idiocy of the highest order.
so was he not the that the young caymanian of the year in 2007???
Conniving’s Over
If he was white would they do the same thing?
I wonder if Rotary will revoke the memberships and rewards for its members that have failed the “four way test” like Sue and Jonathon Nicholson or Michael Levitt?
Seriously “Malcolm XKY”? Why do you feel the need to bring race into this? Yes, I’m sure if he was “white” they would have done the same thing. And what does Rotary have to do with it? Yes, I’m also sure that Sue Nicholson and Michael Levitt had they memberships in Rotary taken away. You don’t need to feel embarrassed by what Canover did just because you are “black”. I’m “white” and I don’t feel embarrassed when “white” people are convicted of crimes. We should feel embarrassed that a Caymanian committed the crime, and not focus on the person’s colour.
Canover deserved his jail term.
However, based on your comments I bet in your world racism doesn’t exist. It must be nice but in Cayman color prejudice is one of the taboo topics
And who makes the effort to make it a topic? People with absolutely no argument or input, so they bring in the race card.
Well said my black brother.
#BlackFraudstersLivesMatter
Malcolm XKY, do yourself a favor and put some ketchup on that chip on your shoulder.
How big is that chip you could probably build the cruise piers
Trollololololol
Malcolm XKY is a S%#T Stirrer. Don’t reply this persons posts as there not serious. Just looking to mess around.
You sad, sad little baby.
You are a disgrace. Right now Rotary is eradicating global polio and even a local Cayman group is rolling up their sleeves, travelling out of pocket to Guatemala to deliver hundreds of literacy program books to the poor, what are YOU doing this weekend?
Don’t bring a global good-deed charity into your rant. Look inside and ask if you create more hate than good? (perhaps your racist tag name explains that?) Just do a wiki on X and tell us if his was a vision for good or or “Malcolm X continued to publicly advocate that black people should achieve advancement “by any means necessary”.
I’m sure Mr Watson deserved his award in 2007, but it was a leadership award for the leading the way for our youth and his actions are just deplorable. The YCLA award carried an important task and he failed and lied
Nothing could be more painful for that award committee and or community. The mighty have fallen and we should all take a look inside and walk away from any cronyism, because it leads away from a true moral compass.
Tatars is great. Some of its members are criminals. It can do more to clean itself up.
And there it is, the sad little man who cannot get anywhere by utilising education, hard work and moral fibre and uses skin colour to promote his worthless point of view.
When will you learn that respect comes from actions not meaningless statements from professional victims who just promote further division?
Just because Beyoncé and her sycophantic followers think it’s smart to raise the spectre of black Muslim hatred and violence inspired entitlement for people of colour, (just to promote a new song and video) it doesn’t make it right.
One day those ‘leaders’ of black culture and victim hood will lose the chip they so freely use as a marketing tool for their music industry and their own wealth management and use their ‘power’ in education and for mainstream political change.
And one day those who follow these self empowered leaders’ will realise that they only do it for their own material gain and rid themselves of their kind.
If you think I’m wrong take a look at any African or almost any Caribbean/South Amercan country that is self governed and name one government or leader which has actually helped their own people instead of oppressing or stealing from them in one form or another.
Sowing division in music or any other form of mass media won’t help, it’ll just entrench those on both sides of the argument and the status quo will remain.
Are they asking for the money back too?
What money? You sound broke sir
Congratulations to the YCLA board making a quick decision on this issue and the right one. Wish we could see more of the same when in Cayman.
That’ll show him!
I remember his speech at the 2008 Awards. He came across as a delusional, angry, egomaniac. Saying that, on a list of things that are pretty pointless, this rescission is right up there. Does an entrant effectively promise to be a good person for ever more? No. They are being assessed as a young person at that time.
About time! What took them so long?
Maybe he can do some good work in Northward, seriously.
Do good work in northward? Like broker in Ganja and Rhum? This guy doesn’t know how to do good work he only knows how to cheat.