An article on the front page of the Tuesday, 22 June 1976 issue of the Caymanian Compass was titled ‘Jamaica in State of Emergency’ and stated that Jamaica’s governor general had declared a state of emergency with effect from June 19 at 12 noon.” The Prime Minister, Michael Manley, said that “the violence in the country had increased to a scale unique in our history.”
He also added that the stage had been set for further escalation of the violence and that innocent people had already been murdered.
Under the state of emergency, the security forces were authorised to arrest and detain all people whose activities are likely to endanger the public safety.
The editorial on page 8 was on Jamaica’s state of emergency.
“The present state of emergency in Jamaica gives a great deal of cause for concern to all who have the interest of the country at heart. Considering the fair proportion of Jamaicans in the Cayman Islands, there is bound to be more than mere academic interest in the situation of our neighbouring Island.”
The editorial also stated that it was inevitable that events would lead to a state of emergency given the reports of crime and violence over the past months, and that the prime minister must have had sleepless nights considering whether to declare the state of emergency.
“A state of emergency is something which a Prime Minister cannot time, in order to fit it in with the existing political climate. It is something which one must decide and be prepared to accept the consequences of such a decision, once it has been made.”
The editorial also stated “ … Mr. Manley certainly had no alternative” as the ambassador of Peru was murdered the previous week.
“The future of Jamaica is not so gloomy after all … dawn is always preceded by the darkest hour.
In the Friday, 25 June 1976 edition, there was an article on the front page titled ‘Good luck message to Peter and Gerry raises funds’ which reported that an initiative to send telegrams to the two-member Cayman Islands Olympic sailing team of helmsman Gerry Kirkconnell and crewman Peter Milburn “ … mushroomed into collecting thousands of signatures at $1 each for one voluminous telegram that would demonstrate Cayman’s support and raise money for the Olympic Fund … ”.
There was a photo with President of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee Doug Calder and Secretary-General Joel Bonn holding the official 1976 Olympic flag, which was flown outside the Citibank Building.
Another article was titled ‘Ten Caymanian seamen for world’s largest barge’ and reported that Isaac L. Tatum, secretary-treasurer of the Global Seamen’s Union, selected 10 Caymanian seamen for assignment on the world’s largest barge, the “Sea Storage”. The 10 seamen were: Edward B. Scott, bosun; Calvin Connor, pump man; Vandyworth M. Smith, diesel engineer; Hubert Ramoon, cook; Alvert Hurlston; Wilson Anderson; Lindbergh C. Tatum; Albert K. McLaughlin; Isaac J. Rankine; and Marwick Scott, all ordinary seamen.
The 82,000 ton. 790-foot-long vessel would be used to help transport oil cargo from super tankers.
An advertisement for Cable & Wireless appeared on page 11, which used cricket to showcase its commitment and offering telephones, telegraph, telex to customers.
The Cayman Compass searchable archives, going back to 1965, are now available here.
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