In the 20 Feb. 1974 issue of the Cayman Compass, a column by the Cayman Islands Conservation Association discussed three laws being drafted that could become the difference “between a healthy marine world… and a disaster area”. Fast forward to today, that effort resonates as Cayman grapples with the aftermath of the 5-6 Feb. nor’wester that required clean-up efforts to clear out debris forced into the sea. Two laws would control dredging and importing spear guns. The third law would prohibit the removal of “attached sea life”, such as black coral and sponges, which could “save the beauty of our reefs for all time”.
Another article very relatable to present day: ‘Career Courses For Caymanians A Necessity’. The president of the Hotel Association was calling for setting up “full scale educational programmes for Caymanians”, either sponsored individually or jointly by government and the private sector. Pointing out the “island-wide labour shortage is bound to get worse” without taking action, he said, “large scale career programmes” were needed, or soon Caymanians “will take great exception to taking second place to the expatriate”.
The iconic Lighthouse restaurant, then called the Lighthouse Club, was featured in the entertainment section as the establishment showed off its “new look”. Out were the “Tunnel Discotheque, the blaring juke box, the live entertainment and the like”, and even the pool table, with the only sounds coming from “the waves hitting against the shore”. American couple Allan and Linda Armstrong, who leased the premises, had “completely redone it”, reopening it in January.
Later in the newspaper, a photo heralded ‘A New First For The Cayman Islands’, with Capt. Cadian Ebanks receiving a medal and certificate making him an honorary citizen of Louisville, Kentucky, for “his services to tourists aboard the Cayman Pride”.
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