The top story in the Tuesday, 18 May, 1976 issue of the Caymanian Compass was about a ‘Family Fair Day’ to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
The official opening address was by Acting Governor Desmond Watler. Approximately 400 people attended the opening, with participation growing to thousands during the day’s activities, the Compass reported.
The story went on to describe the activities which included the King of the Fair Contest – the highlight of the day, with Graham Thompson winning for the second year in a row.
There was also a banana eating contest. “The winner and still champion is Eddie Barnes who ‘inhaled’ a remarkable 28 bananas in only three minutes to take the $25 prize.” The fans likened his performance to that of a vacuum cleaner.
Other events included a bicycle race, boat race, boxing displays and the Kiwanis prize of a 14-foot Summit power boat won by Dexter Ebanks, a police officer.
The story concluded: “The best thing of all was that everyone got a prize in all the booths and stalls just for participating and no children went home crying.”
The photo showed the Family Fair Day being opened officially by Watler.
The editorial discussed support needed for fundraising for the Olympics.
“The fact that the Cayman Islands flag is being flown in Montreal and the Olympic flag is unfurled here during the Olympic fundraising period, is indicative of the prestige which our country will gain by participation in the games,” it noted.
The editorial also addressed Cayman and the Commonwealth.
“As we have repeated time and again, the Cayman Islands remain one of Her Majesty’s territories where the inhabitants are among the most loyal subjects of the Queen. There was disappointment when on the Royal Visit to Jamaica last year, the Sovereign’s itinerary could not have included the Cayman Islands.
“It is fervently hoped that it will be possible in the not-too-distant future for a Royal Visit to be arranged so that the desires of Caymanians on this matter will be realised.”
In the Friday, 21 May edition, the main story on the front page was about local contractors protesting: “Tempers … flared this week over some equipment arriving in George Town harbour for McAlpine Ltd., contractors for the Grand Cayman port project.
“The refusal to land the equipment was an expression of a protest by local entrepreneurs against the import of equipment which, they maintain, is available locally.”
A meeting was held with representatives from local businesses to discuss the issues, and an agreement was reached that the equipment could be landed on the condition it was not used before the dispute was settled.
Contractors complained that they were never invited to submit a bid for the job.
A photo showed the Kirk-B, which held the equipment.
Another photo showed the Cayman Singers and Cayman Drama Society in the joint production of the musical comedy ‘Boyfriend’, which was performing. The play included 62 theatre people, the largest group ever assembled for a local production.
An advert for the play also appeared on page 11.
The Cayman Compass searchable archives, going back to 1965, are now available here.
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