The 5 Sept. 1974 edition of The Caymanian Compass carried another front-page story on the Caribbean Utilities Company. Following the Chamber of Commerce previously expressing concern about an “electrical crisis”, the association said it heard a proposal from a US company to lease a generator to CUC to help alleviate the shortage. While the rental cost of $294,000 was expensive, the chamber said as many as 50 units would be without power by year end. They were going to send a “strong letter” to CUC for a reply to the offer; if there was no response the chamber would take the case to the public.
The Lobster Pot was featured in a restaurant review. Located above Bob Soto’s Dive Shop on North Church Street, it “offers one of the best views of the sea while enjoying a meal”, the review noted. Lunchtime was popular due to the “cool central air conditioning and pints of Courage draught or bottled beer”, and the guarantee of “a hot, man-sized meal” of curry, roast lamb or beef, fish and chips, and steak and kidney pie, among others. For dinner, the restaurant offered a five-course meal for $10.
Singer Dalmain Ebanks, who had a band called the ‘Happy Boys’ in the 1950s, was off to Vancouver to record an album of his original songs. Accompanying him was lead guitarist McArthur Manderson, who would be playing on the album. Ebanks said that a few months ago, he started singing again at the Galleon Beach Hotel on country and western night.
The Compass also had a photo of the newly opened Red Rabbit in the Red Bay Shopping Plaza, owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Hatch and son-in-law Neil Cruickshank. The store sold a selection of imported cheeses and speciality foods, plus wine and spirits, and was able to special order any cheese for the “gourmet”.
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The Lobster Pot had one of the few bars in George Town in the early days. They also had a barman by the name of Rudiger, quite a character, and I will never forget him serving Mrs Spencer-Barnes with her favourite cocktail, liberally laced with vinegar. We were in on the plan and her face after taking a sip was truly a sight to see!. Astonishingly he survived this episode, a tribute to his popularity with the regulars.