Nominations for YCLA 2010 are unveiled

| 31/01/2010

(CNS): The countdown to who will receive this year’s title of the Young Caymanian Leadership Award (YCLA) has begun following the announcement by the honorary board of the five finalists for this year’s contest: Felix Manzanares, Melanie McLaughlin, Krishan Welcome, Tammy Ebanks Bishop and Collin Anglin. Melissa Wolfe of the YCLA explained that, following the nominations, the five will all take part in a video-interview, where the judges score the candidates before they tot up the marks and hand them to PricewaterhouseCoopers, who will keep the name of the recipient under wraps until 20 February when the awards take place.

"Meeting them all for the first time was a great occasion for the five to share in the excitement of becoming a finalist," Wolfe said. "Appreciation goes to all those who took the time to nominate and honour a young Caymanian, since all candidates come from these nominations".

Each honorary board member will view the judging video and scores based on various criteria. Each score card is individually sealed in envelopes and calculated by a third party, accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Not until the night of Saturday, 20 February, does that name get revealed to a live audience during the broadcast on Cayman27. Wolfe said that the five finalists are already receiving messages and good wishes of congratulations for this new achievement.

"Our five finalists for 2010 are impressive and very diverse. We have various backgrounds, professions and passions. What they share is a combined and sincere dedication to Cayman’s youth and the future of the Cayman Islands. Every single finalist is a role model on many levels," added Wolfe.

Complete biographies and questionnaires to get to know the finalists will be published in the coming weeks.

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  1. wesbaya says:

    I don’t really know much about any of the finalists but I certainly admire the humility of Collin Anglin.

  2. Anonymous says:

    How can we celebrate something as stupid as a glorified popularity contest at a time when our neighbours have sufferred a tremendous blow.  If the ‘contestants’, ‘nominees’ or whatever they are called when to Haiti to assist, then I might think differently of them, but right now they are of no significance or interest to me

    • Anonymous says:

      Does the rest of the world come to a stand still because of a tragedy? We sympathize with them, & of course we do whatever we can do to help, but life goes on stupid. "How can we go to work at a time when our neighbours have suffered a tremendous blow"? Do you see how stupid your question is? Congrats to all 5 contestants, & I hope you do not let ignorant & stupid persons get you down, but instead use this platform to help our neighbours in whatever way you can. By the way, I see things such as sport & recreation happening every weekend, should that stop too because of the tremendous blow to Haiti? How silly! 

      • Anonymous says:

        Oh yeh – name calling is a great way to debate!  Why do we have to be like the rest of the world?

  3. Robin says:

    Congratulations and Good Luck to all the YCLA finalists!  I am not too familiar with Tammy, Colin, Krishan, or Melanie, but I know Felix, who I know is an outstanding leader and positive influence on our youth.  I look foward to learning more about the others in their biographies.

    Way to go Felix, you have my support and best wishes! 

  4. Anonymous says:

    CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK TO COLIN AND MELANIE (PAT), YOU HAVE MADE WEST BAY PROUD!!!

  5. RISING STARS says:

    Congrats to all 5 on their nomination.  Special congratulations to Colin & Felix.  We are very proud of you both.

    Be Blessed

     

  6. Anonymous says:

    Can’t wait until its all over so we can get on with tackling some real issues other than who is the most popular out of just a very small percentage of the population

    • Anonymous says:

      Who’s stopping you from tackling real issues? Surely, not the YCLA. These individuals, in their own way, do tackle some of our real issues and they are beingcelebrated for that reason. It is not a popularity contest. Please do not discourage those who are trying to do some good for this country by your mean-spirited comments.  You are a part of the problem. Your bad attitude is a serious issue that you should tackle.    

      • Anonymous says:

        My ‘Bad attitude’ seems to be only because you don’t agree with what I am saying or understand what I am saying.  Where in my post did I say I was being stopped from tackling real issues?  In my opinion it is a popularity contest, an opinion that is permitted in the free West. What is amusing is that I am labelled with a ‘bad attitude’ just because it does not agree with yours, an ad-hominem argument at best.

        I say stop these ridiculous events and channel the energy that is otherwise put into them into something much more positive, and yes that is what I believe I do!!

        • Anonymous says:

            In a country where youth have very little to aspire to except "putting rims on my car", events like this are needed. You say it is a glorified popularity contest and that the energy directed at this should be put towards more pressing issues, but what on earth could possibly be more important than inspiring our youth by showing them what their peers have been able to achieve? I think YCLA does a fantastic Job of showing the young women of Cayman what classy, intelligent women they can be and for the you men sends the perfect counter image to the "thug mentality" so prevalent here now. 

          You say channel the energy into things more positive and I don’t know you, but I honestly wonder what kind of positive effect you have had on our society? You are indeed entitled to your opinion, but we are also entitled to tell you we think it is foolish.

          • Anonymous says:

            The YCLA is ‘selective’ and nominees are popular people.  If they really made an effort to select the ordinary kid in the street, then I might think different.

  7. Ex-Patriot says:

    There would surely be more of a choice of candidates for a spin-off "YELA" Programme 

  8. WB says:

    Congrats to all the finalist.  Special congrats to my friend Mel!  Rootin for yah.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Finally, some positive news coming out of Cayman! Good luck to you all!

  10. Anonymous says:

    All candidates are unique in their own way. I do however, admire Krishan Welcome who is a role model to many of our young people. Krishan displays alot of care amongst our lil ones, and is heavily involved in the community as well as the church. I wish for her much success!

  11. Anonymous says:

    I think it’s a breath of fresh air to see two young Caymanian men being nominated for such an award especially witnessing how many of them are being murdered on a regular for drug or gang related reasons – hats off to you guys, you are true leaders of this society if you don’t win a prize.  Best of luck to all the contestants!

  12. The force is strong with this one... says:

    Great bunch of candidates.  I am aware of the public works of Colin, Tammy and Felix, especially with regard to helping young people.  I can’t wait to see everyone’s biographies so I can be better informed.  In past its seems to me that candidates should have had more to offer than just having had obtained good grades, education and a good job.  I withold judgment in this regard until details of all candidates is publicized.  If I had to vote today, Coli would be my definite choice.  He is a very well rounded, community spirited young man and I believe the future is bright for him.

    • Down to Earth says:

      Great group, but spoilt by some "thank God mussolini is not available" comments, who to me, sounds like a Left-Wing "nut-job".

    • Down to Earth says:

      You go there Pastor Felix.

  13. Anonymous says:

    It is truly amazing that something as positive as the recognition of 5 YOUNG CAYMANIAN leaders can solicit such negative views is a true testament as to the current state of our society. It is truly disheartening that so many of us are filled with such hatefulness and badmindedness. If this is the kind of BS that our young children are being exposed to on a constant basis it is no wonder why the level and callousness of crimes being committed are on the rise.

    I congratulate each and every nominee and wish them the very best. Simply being nominated is an honor in and of itself.

     

    Congratulations!!!!

     

    • Anonymous says:

      All I want to say is that they are all good candidates but there is nothing wrong with me hoping my Bro, Felix is the winner!

      • BORN FREE says:

        Congratulations to the 5 young Caymanians selected, & I think all 5 are deserving of their nomination, but I too will have to support my bro Felix to win, not only because I think he is a great influence & role model for our youth, but also because I nominated him last year.

  14. Anonymous says:

    I am familiar with Melanie and Tammy and both are outstanding young leaders and I have only heard very positive things about the other 3 young persons so this is a good group and best of luck to all of you!

  15. Anonymous says:

    Excellent candidates this year. All worthy to stand in the YCLA, but I have to give my congrats and support to my Pastor, Felix. 🙂

  16. Nicky Watson says:

    To the genius wondering why I didn’t post his/her comment: You can support whoever you like, but if you say, if they don’t win then the competition is fixed, then it’s going to be dumped.

  17. Anonymous says:

    all the best to all of you good people

  18. Anonymous says:

    These are five truly positive truly Caymanian role models and strong leaders who continue to make us proud.

    Although this is a younger field of candidates than in previous years their accomplishments are all outstanding.

    Keep up the great work young Caymanians!

    In the face of adversity always remember "Yes we can!"

    It is my sincere hope that each nominee will use their platform to strengthen their networks and help to inspire and lift up other young Caymanians.

    If each one would bring one with them to the top of the mountain of success we would all be better off.

     

     

  19. Thank God Mussolini is not available... says:

    Can’t wait to see who the organisers pick to be the keynote speaker at the awards banquet this year. Let’s see, I’ll go out on a limb and predict it will be some American right wing nut job.

     

    Past YCLA speakers include:

    — Oliver North (one of the many convicted criminals who served in the Reagan administration. By the way, how did he get a work permit to earn that speaking fee YCLA paid him? A felony conviction should have prevented him from working in the Cayman Islands. What’s up with that?)

    — Mike Huckabee (Republicanpresidential candidate and devout man of God who once called for HIV positive Americans to be placed in prison camps.)

    — Stephen Baldwin ("Actor" who promotes conservative Christian fundamentalist agenda)

    — Steve Douchey (one of the empty suits in Fox News propaganda machine)

     

    It’s going to be a Sean Hannity, G. Gordon Liddy, or Glenn Beck sort of mutant this year. Just watch and see.

     

    Strange

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Its so strange that you did not mention the BIGGEST "nut-job" in Danny Glover. Anyone who can support a dictator like Chavez and degrade his own Country has to be a "nut-job", but all the examples and posted comments you have given leads me to understand your viewpoint Star!

    • BORN FREE says:

      I hope & pray that they will bring Sean Hannity! I also hope & PRAY PRAY PRAY that they do NOT bring some radical left wing ‘nut job’ like George Soros or any of those democratic left wing nuts that support everything that is wrong & evil such as abortion, partial birth abortion, gay marriages, their apparent support of terrorism & the nuts who blow up themselves in the name of religion, & many other ‘nut job’ ideas. We are a christian country & I will oppose any left wing radical ‘nut job’ coming to Cayman to talk to our youth to promote their agenda, including their fight on christianity (we all know that in America all other religions have more rights & more say than christianity because of the democrats & radical left wing nuts. You cannot even say Merry Christmas anymore, what on earth do those nuts think Christmas is?). We do not want that promoted here in Cayman. We have enough problems here in Cayman, we do not need any radical left wing ‘nut job’ here encouraging our youth with their radical ideas! Please I PRAY, Please bring someone who will be a POSITIVE & GOOD influence for our youth, someone decent & religious like Sean Hannity! PLEASE!

      • Anonymous says:

        Forget the left wing … they can bring George Clooney and make many of us ladies veeery happy! lol

        • Anonymous says:

          Oh no, not George Clowney, he is a left wing nut job as bad as they come, Clooney I mean!

        • Anonymous says:

          NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not George Cloooooney, he is another left wing nut job! Keep those left wing nut jobs out of Cayman!

    • Anonymous says:

      Give me the good of the right wing nut jobs any day over the evils of the left wing nut jobs! ANYDAY! Good over Evil everyday!

  20. Anonymous says:

    Way to go Colin and Felix.  You both have definitely set a wonderful example showing how far hard work, honesty, determintation, love and God can take you.!! Good luck..

  21. Anonymous says:

    To Pres. E. Mist, not because you have such a poor outlook on your life, that others will falter!

    Please get a life!

  22. Pess. E. Mist says:

    Everyone should enjoy the last few years of competition. Within the next few years there will be insufficient suitable candidates to sustain it.

  23. Ronnie says:

    Congratulations Mel, we are all rooting for you

    • Anonymous says:

      This just show the level of bad mind and grudge that exist in this country when someone expresses congratulation to a person for their recognition and it is met with multiple thumbs down…. and we wonder why society is going downhill.

      • Anonymous says:

        It all depends on the reputation of that person. Not everyone will agree with comments made about a person, & it is only democratic to voice opposing views, is that a crime babe? If a person has a questionable reputation is it wrong or illegal to give a thumbs down to a comment supporting that person? No libelous comment is made, just a simple thumbs down, get it? Get a life babe!

        • Anonymous says:

          I agree with 13:29 above, it is just bad mind on the part of some people. No one is perfect, no one is without fault, as a society, we have a right to illuminate the positives of an individual notwithstanding that they may have made errors along life’s journey.

          These individuals have all made valuable contributions to society.

          You on the other hand "babes" can only claim an accomplishment for pulling your thumb out of where the sun doesn’t shine long enough to give a thumbs down!!