The main article on the front page of the Caymanian Compass on 19 Feb. 1976 was about protesters. The people who marched back on 22 Dec., in protest of raised taxes among other grievances, stated their intention of marching again, particularly because they were dissatisfied with the reply to their demands that they received from the governor on 21 Jan.
In a hand-delivered written release to the Compass on 18 Feb., Buddy Wood and Esther Ebanks, who were speaking on behalf of the organisers of the march, stated their intention of taking the matter to the Legislative Assembly.
The next march was scheduled for 27 Feb.
The photo that appeared on page one was of Jerry Payne receiving a Sir Turtle award in recognition of 25 years of service to the island including construction of the West Indian Club and Caribbean Club.
Another article was on a potential rise in the price of petrol. Local gas station operators had raised concerns earlier in the year on the pricing for fuel, as they had informed the public that unless their margin of profit increased, the stations would have to be closed. A price increase was now expected and an operator confirmed it.
Vassel Johnson, who was instructed by the governor to deal with the matter, wrote the three oil companies operating at the time and said, “First I must point out that government has not control over prices in the private sector and therefore the price of petrol is a matter entirely under your control since you fix the price on the pumps.” He went on to explain in more detail the role of government plus some aspects of the problem the operators were facing.
Another article, ‘Helicopter is Cayman’s latest UFO’ described how residents spotted an “usually large and unfamiliar helicopter flying over the Islands and intermittently hovering as low as 10 feet about the ground”. It was unknown to Civil Aviation personnel, who were not able to contact it. A resident reported seeing the Canadian flag and RAF insignia on the outside of what he described as a military troop-carrying helicopter with open hatches, and that the crewmen aboard wore the traditional black flying suit of the RAF.
The editorial on page four highlighted that a “slight discrepancy in the present election procedures has come to light as a result of the Cayman Brac-Little Cayman by-election” and went on to say that the situation could affect the validity of future election results. There was a concern that there was no built-in provision to prevent a person voting in more than one electoral district or at a polling station on the same day.
It also mentioned discipline in sport as there was a football match played in West Bay that caused some reaction by the public. “Criticism of the roughness of play evident in certain matches highlights the fact that discipline has never had the importance it deserves to the detriment of the future of the sport.” And that “ungentlemanly behaviour has led to a dropping out of promoters and persons genuinely interested in furthering sport in Cayman.”
A thank you notice appeared on page three from Kirkconnell, thanking those who assisted in his recent campaign.
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