50 years ago: Lobster plant for the Brac; fraudster convicted

In the Tuesday, 19 Oct. 1976 issue of the Caymanian Compass, an article on the front page, “Taekwon-do (Cayman) wins more international trophies” reported that six trophies were added to the collection of international honours the sport organisation won. On the previous Sunday, 11 students from Cayman had entered the Gen. Chois Cup International Taekwon-Do Tournament in Connecticut.

In the mini–Pee Wee class, under 39 pounds, Woody Foster took first place and Dean Lynee second. In the super mini–Pee Wee, 40 to 60 pounds, Anthony Henriques came third. A photo appeared showing the students.

An article on page 3 reported that the Cayman Friends Society presented nearly $500 of new equipment to the Lighthouse School for Bosun Bay.

Physical therapist Jackie Tomlinson-Smith said that the equipment was aimed at improving the most chronic problems faced by the children – co-ordination.

In the Friday, 22 Oct. 1976 issue, one of the top articles was the wrap-up of the trial of the ex-police corporal who had been charged with fraud. The article reported that Michael Foster, 27, who at one time was attached to the Narcotics and Fraud Squad of the Cayman Islands Police Force, was sentenced to a fine of $3,000, with an alternative of three months’ imprisonment. This followed a five-to-two majority verdict of a seven-person jury who found him guilty on two counts of attempting to obtain money by deception. Foster had put in claims for two different insurance policies after his home was destroyed in a fire.

Another article reported that plans were under way to establish a lobster processing plant on Cayman Brac. The plant was under construction at Creek, and the enterprise was Little Cayman Trading Company, which was to be in operation in late November that year.

The photo on the front page showed a Sabre jet, a 20-year vintage American military aircraft that had been purchased from the US government by the Honduran government.

The editorial on page 4, titled “Cayman’s duty”, discussed two events in world history: Trafalgar Day on 21 Oct. and the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations on 24 Oct. The editorial highlighted how important it was for people to vote as it was irresponsible not to do this “most sacred and responsible duty which evolves upon a citizen.”

An advertisement appeared on page A3 of that issue from Cayman Fire Safety, saying, “We can customise a fire protection system for any domestic or commercial application.”

The Cayman Compass searchable archives, going back to 1965, are now available here.