The top article in the Caymanian Compass 22 Jan. 1976 issue reported that the demonstrators who had handed a petition to Governor Thomas Russell on 22 Dec., after marching through George Town, were dissatisfied with his reply. This reply was received by a delegation on 21 Jan.
The organisers of the marchers were listed in the article and included: Esther Ebanks from the district of West Bay and Bodden Towners Buddy Wood, A.J. Miller and Jim Wood. These four were selected to represent the demonstrators at a meeting with the governor held on 14 Jan., by appointment. The group told the Compass, “We do not feel we have received any of the requests made in our petition.”
The group planned to hold meetings in the districts to take the governor’s reply back to the people who had marched. The delegation told the governor, “We regret having to pursue the matter,” further explaining that the petition comprised demands of persons from all over the island and had been held with all districts except George Town, as that meeting unavoidably “fell through”.
The governor’s reply, which appears later in the paper, detailed out each of the issues raised and explained items to consider related to each. These included: “Cut the budget”, “No raise in taxation”, and “The Development Plan”.
The photo on the home page showed this same delegation selected to receive the governor’s reply as they perused the document during an interview with the Caymanian Compass.
Another article on the front page was from the Principal Secretary of Health Dennis Foster, who indicated that medical staff, nurses and technicians who worked between the hours of 4pm and 8pm at the hospital were responsible for collecting payments from patients, as well as treating them. Foster said that during the two weeks from 1 Jan. to 14 Jan., 214 patients received free emergency care because of failure to collect fees.
The editorial on page three addressed these topics: the governor’s reply; people being “too cagey” when it comes to talking with the press; and price increases.
Regarding the governor’s reply to demonstrators, the editorial said, “the documents are lucid and concise and for the most part are self-explanatory, though couched in the language of officialdom”.
Another point raised was that there was difficulty in achieving amendments to budgetary proposals after they have been introduced in Parliament.
Also, “the demonstrators have acted within the practices and principles of the democratic concept and the governor’s reply as well. One thing about the whole issue is that it proves democracy is at work in the Cayman Islands.”
Addressing Cayman people being far “too cagey” when it comes to talking to the press, the editorial stated that this is in direct contrast to the very active “grape vine” which is at work “almost incessantly in the country”. After providing examples, the editorial raised the question: “How long will the local Press remain at a disadvantage because of this cagey attitude?”
Lastly, the editorial addresses price increases. “After struggling through a year of recession … it was hoped that improvements already felt abroad would be reflected in Cayman this year,” and mentioned the threat of utility and gasoline price increases that would “nullify any economic benefits” the country may gain.
An advertisement on page nine showed ‘drive-in banking’ available at The Northwestern Bank.
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