For any business to be a success, it takes players behind the scenes.
And that is certainly as true for Cayman Free Press as well as any other successful business in the Cayman Islands.
“Every since I can remember we’ve been involved with the Compass; as supporters from the back, if you will,” said John Michael Foster.
The Foster family remains one of the major shareholders of Cayman Free Press and sit in at meetings with General Manager Brian Uzzell and others.
Overseeing the interest for the Foster family is Financial Controller Paul Sleep.
Today Cayman Free Press, parent company of the Caymanian Compass, other publications and Precision Print, celebrates its 45th anniversary.
“Around 1969 Steve and I got involved when Reid Dennis started one of the businesses and I got in with Instant Print and Photography (the predecessor to the Caymanian Weekly). Steve and Dave (Foster) decided to be in the background,” Mr. Sleep said.
Times were economically tough in the early 1970s, he said, when Billy Bodden was still involved in the earlier newspapers.
Steve and Dave Foster owned the building where the Foster’s at the Airport stands now and where a portion of that was used by Billy Bodden to run his newspaper.
“The Compass used to occupy part of the building, but they couldn’t pay rent. It was a tough period for six or seven years and then Brian (Uzzell) was brought on board along with Dianne.
“They worked very hard and rescued the paper,” Mr. Sleep said.
In 1981 Foster’s Food Fair expanded.
“All existing tenants had to hightail it out of here,” he said. “That was a big leap for them.”
When Brian took over he merged the Caymanian Weekly and the Cayman Compass to create the Caymanian Compass, the paper that our readers and advertisers look forward to on a daily basis.
Over the years the Foster family has become less actively involved as Brian, the majority shareholder, has run the company very successfully during changing times.
“We don’t have any dealings with the Compass other than silent shareholders,” said John Michael. “Paul is our representative who bridges the gap between Brian and the Fosters.”
Throughout the history of Cayman Free Press, the Foster family has been extremely supportive of the company.
“They always believed in a paper for the Cayman Islands,” John Michael said.
At first the Caymanian Compass could have been considered a public service, he said. But as the professionalism grew, advertisers jumped on board to make the paper the success it is today.
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Happy 45th anniversary!
I read the newspaper and keep up with the website regularly!