The main story in the 28 Nov. 1974 edition of The Caymanian Compass was on the budget debate in the Legislative Assembly, in which member for Bodden Town Haig Bodden “put forth an eloquent speech of exhortation and inspiration covering four hours”, saying the proposed $14 million budget was too big, and it was a “most inopportune time” to put that forward.
The Compass coverage of the LA was featured in a story about the newspaper being “heavily criticised” the previous week for reporting on the budget session. Some legislators were upset that the Compass published the story at 5pm, only an hour after the budget address concluded, and that “everyone” at the Compass knew what was coming before the House while MLAs did not. Apparently, they did not understand that the newspaper had an advance copy of the speech.
The editorial on page 4 addressed the “the attack on the Press” finding legislators’ “interpretation or misinterpretation on the promptness” of the story both amazing and amusing, saying it expected lawmakers representing the people “would be eager and glad to know that the public … were apprised of important matters”, adding, “legislators should realise the Press is serving the same people whom they represent”.
There was also a page one story about Dayal Whittaker, who had been convicted of manslaughter in the death of retired nurse, Phyllis Parker, 68, in February 1974, and sentenced to life in prison with hard labour in Jamaica. After appeal, his sentence was reduced to seven years. Though turning down the appeal against the conviction, the Appeal Court, sitting in Kingston, ruled that the trial judge erred in imposing the life sentence.
And page 8 featured a photo showing ‘Another First for C.A.L.’, with an all-Caymanian crew landing a Cayman Airways flight from Miami at Owen Roberts International Airport. The crew comprised stewardess Harriet Lott, Commander Wilbur Thompson, purser Handel Whittaker, Captain Harrison Bothwell and stewardess Dorothy McCoy.
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