The top article in the 5 Feb. 1976 issue of the Caymanian Compass was on CUC workers threatening to strike. The staff members at CUC had postponed their strike for higher wages for the following week as a complete shutdown of power on Grand Cayman would take place unless management agreed to a 30% increase in salaries.
The Chief Engineer at CUC, Bert Jackson, said that the staff had walked out of their job at 12 noon on 4 Feb., and that he alone manned the plant to keep the power supply to the island.
Managing Director of CUC Robert Odear said, “We have given our employees raises each year and now the question is how much. We hope to come up an amicable agreement, not only with our employees but also with Government.”
The photo on the front page was of a new pier built at Spotts.
Another article was on Jim Bodden, MLA, taking over Caledonian Farms, which had absorbed Caribbean Dairy in Nov. 1975. Bodden said, “We’re creating a product that will be in demand.”
Caledonian Farms comprised more than 500 acres in Lookout and Northside and planned to produce pork for local consumption with its 50-sow breeding herd. It also had a sheep herd that it planned to increase by 100 with newly imported animals, and said it had the makings of beef and goat herds.
The article continued on page 2 saying that Bodden was expected to take the helm on marketing activities. Long-range plans for the company included the production of condensed milk and possibly the construction of a cannery and slaughter facilities.
Another article mentioned that telco Cable & Wireless received approval from the government for a rate increase – not a 30% as requested but instead on certain areas of operations.
The editorial had three topics: a by-election, the appeals tribunal and CUC.
Voters were to go to the polls on the following Monday to elect a member to succeed the late Captain A.A. Reid for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The five candidates were: Raymond Foster, Captain Charles Kirkconnell, Layman Scott, Captain Keith Tibbetts, and Percy Whorms. The editorial mentioned that with a registered electorate 758, individual “appeal of the candidates is bound to play its part”. The editorial encouraged voters to turn out in full force.
“The Vital Issues” section discussed how the development plan would affect the country and stressed that the plan by the Central Planning Authority was based on a futuristic concept. “What really matters is not what Caymanians want now, but what will be best for Cayman in 1990” and “it is to the credit of the respective objectors and their legal advisers that matters like finance, heritage, ecology and population have been brought before the Tribunal.”
Finally, the editorial reminded CUC how much the economy depends on tourism and wondered how long CUC customers will have to endure “expensive inconveniences”. It noted that “the people of Cayman Brac formed their own public utility company, which may well serve as a model for this island.”
Several restaurant advertisements appeared including one for The Almond Tree promoting its ‘Island Atmosphere’ and ‘Big Banana Splits’.
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