MBE awardee James Watler continues legacy of service

Even though retired civil servant James Watler has 43 years of service under his belt, he continues to give his time and talent by working in the community.

It was this dedication and commitment that led to the 71-year-old being named a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in King Charles III’s first birthday honours last month.

“I am surprised, and I really appreciate the good gesture,” Watler told the Cayman Compass in a recent interview following the announcement of his MBE.

Watler, like his fellow MBE recipient this year Garth Arch, said he was honoured and humbled by the award.

He said Governor Jane Owen shared some of the accolades written about him.

“I’m delighted to know that people feel that way towards me, and the kind of work I’ve been trying to do over these years,” he said.

Passion for teaching

Watler was awarded an MBE for his public service and contributions to education in the Cayman Islands.

Fellow Caymanian Garth Arch was also awarded an MBE for his services to business, commerce and the community in Cayman.

Watler started his career in September 1976 at the then Cayman Islands High School, now John Gray High School, as a teacher and worked a lot with special needs children.

“[I] was able to bring some of those students up so they could take exams in that period of time because their reading wasn’t where it [should be], but I found innovative ways of working with them so they could pull themselves up and be able to sit an exam,” he said.

When students see that you are interested in them and bond with them, he said good things can happen.

Watler is a family man, and had the support of his wife Janet along the way as he went about changing lives.

“If you want to do good work along with people, see what their needs are. You have your needs, they have their needs. You help them with their needs, and guess what? It will reciprocate. They will help you with your needs, as well, and so you become a better person and they become a better person,” he said.

Watler, a father of three – Kimberly, Natacha and Kevin, valued the importance of education.

Looking back at his career, spanning teacher, principal and administrator, Watler said he is gratified.

He participated in the creation of the first iteration of Cayman’s national school curriculum.

As a proud Caymanian and social studies teacher, Watler also penned the first social studies textbook used in schools for kids to learn about local culture. It was first published in 2000.

With the support of then permanent secretary Joy Basdeo, Watler said he drafted elements he thought would be ideal from Year 1 on up to Year 6.

“It went through the process, it was accepted, and then we contracted Macmillan Publishers to send someone to assist us in the writing of that book. We have six of the finest textbooks, workbooks and teachers’ manual as a result of that,” he said.

Watler said he was also proud of the formation of the Cayman Islands Civil Service Association Credit Union, which was established as a means of support for Caymanian workers like him, who were discriminated against by banks in the 1970’s.

Watler said back then, when he, as a young Caymanian, sought to buy a car he was refused by the banks, even though he had financial means to repay the loan.

This triggered a sequence of events that led senior civil servants at the time – Louis Moncrieffe, George McCarthy, Colford Scott, Ray Miller and Rachael Ebanks, together with John (Lemuel) Hurlston and Gilbert McLean – to pool $35 to form the credit union.

“Today our credit union is worth over half a billion dollars, from $35,” he said.

Service never stops

Though long retired from the service, Watler still gives his time by continuing to work with the Civil Service Association, of which he was president for 10 years.

“I work on different grievances that some of the members have with their immediate supervisor or department or section or unit. I’m a director on the Public Service Pension Board and I’m very proud to be on there,” he said.

The father-of-three said Cayman’s pensioners are a cadre of individuals who need vigilance all the time and he is happy to continue to serve in their interest.

“Our society has changed so much, with all the things going on with cyber threats, cyber security. We have persons scamming others, sometimes it may be a relative or someone who is posing as a close friend. Being a friend to those persons who are less fortunate and [who] don’t always have someone to look out for their best interests is key to being a good person within the community,” he said.

Watler, who has two grandchildren and another on the way, said he wants to leave a legacy of selfless service and encourages others to do the same, especially those in the civil service.

“What public servants need to do and realise is that they are exactly that – public servants. Therefore, whatever service they’re rendering should be from the heart. If they’re doing it just because of pay or because it’s a job, it’s not gonna be rewarding. It’s only going to be rewarding when you put yourself into it and you know that you’re giving your best,” he said.

He also urged civil servants and the wider community to be their brother’s keeper and look out for each as he did when he was in the “trenches”.

“That’s what’s important… being there for your fellow man, very, very important, and it’s very important to me. That’s why I still give of my service. I will do so as long as God gives me the health and strength to move around,” Watler said.