With the election of the officers for the new National Council of Social Services making the front page of the 16 Jan. 1975 edition of The Caymanian Compass, the newspaper ran an editorial about the new organisation. It noted how important the council was, saying, “social services are needed in Cayman much more than many think”. The editorial pointed to unwed mothers with young children struggling to provide for them; care for the aged; and delinquency, among issues that had to be addressed. It added that the council must be effective “for the social and economic future of Cayman depends on our ability to solve our own problems while they are still in their infancy”.
Coincidentally, there was also a story on social worker Gleeda Forbes being awarded the Queen’s Badge and Certificate of Honour in the new year’s honours list. Forbes, 58, who was single, was described as being “‘married’ to her little ones” who “she accommodates in a wooden building at the dead-end of Elgin Avenue in George Town”. At the moment, she was taking care of 20 children, teaching reading, writing, spelling, and addition and subtraction. The former students of the “benevolent social worker”, who started teaching in 1939, included those in government service, as well as teachers, a nurse and an electrician.
The newspaper also published a photo noting the 103rd birthday of Sarah Ann Smith. Among the people who came to her West Bay home to celebrate the special occasion were John Jefferson and Benson Ebanks, members of the Legislative Assembly for her district, Governor Thomas Russell, and her great great grandchildren.
CUC was in the news again, this time for the installation of two new fuel storage tanks for the company’s electricity-generating plant. The tanks, with a total capacity of 60,000 gallons, cost almost $40,000.
Related Videos
