Up Front
"The right to vote...isa right to vote in your own country..."
Olivaire Watler
A letter from one of our readers, suggestingthat the recent elections were not truly democratic because non-Caymanians- the majority of the population - were not allowed to vote, hassparked a range of interesting comments from a cross section ofreaders. In this edition, young Caymanian attorney-at-law, Mr.Olivaire Watler presents his own argument in reponse to the reader'sletter, and in defence of the Cayman Islands' position.
Olivaire Watler is used to standing up and speaking out.
The 34-year-old attorney-at-law with the firm, Maples and Calder,was earlier this year presented with the Young Caymanian LeadershipAward for outstanding leadership and community service.
He is Chairman of the Caymanian Bar Association's (CBA) ImmigrationLaw Review Committee, and up to 1999 was Vice President of theCBA. He has served as Chairman of the Labour Appeals Tribunaland is a Notary Public.
Mr. Watler has also been a member of the E-Business Advisory Boardto the government and was instrumental in drafting the e-transactionslaw.
Mr. Watler, who grew up in East End, Grand Cayman, received hisprimary and secondary education on the island, following whichhe attended Bristol University in the United Kingdom. He receivedhis Bachelor of Law degree (with honours) in 1988. In 1989, hewas called to the Bar of England and Wales at Grays Inn. Thatsame year, he returned to the Cayman Islands, and began his careerat Maples and Calder, where he specialises in corporate/commerciallaw.
Son of Trevor and Bernicia Watler of East End, he is married toSandra (formerly Edun) who is also an attorney-at-law.