A front-page photo in the 18 July 1974 edition of The Caymanian Compass showed “the largest local group to leave [Cayman] on Cayman Airways”. The passengers – 49 students and teachers from Cayman High School – were pictured in front of the jet that was going to take them to Mexico City for a week-long trip.
Next to that photo was a story, ‘Del Smithers Gets Top Post’, about the appointment of a vice president for the new Cayman Mortgage Bank, which was officially launched a week earlier. While bank president Jean Doucet called her an “extremely capable Caymanian”, he added she was the “prettiest banker” he had ever met, with those two words used for the caption under her photo. Readers can make up their own minds on the appropriateness of this.
Inside the newspaper, the Compass responded to a letter on the op-ed page written by Theo Bodden about the lack of public parking by the George Town Post Office. In agreeing with Captain Theo, the newspaper said, “a municipal ‘Car Park’ in the centre of the town should be established soon”. While suggesting a double-decker car park could be the solution, it also noted that “Government cannot be expected to do everything, and maybe the commercial community could consider taking the lead”. The editorial ended by saying, “Pedestrian Crossings and the erection of more Traffic Islands in places suggested already in the Press and at other locations are bound to be put into effect with the continuation of the changes now in progress”.
And staying on the subject of cars, a photo on page 10, headlined ‘A Near Swim’, showed a vehicle just avoiding a dunk in George Town Harbour, after its brakes failed. Even better news: the driver managed to crawl to safety through the window.
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