The top article in the Caymanian Compass in the Tuesday, 28 Sept. issue was titled “Judicial and legal reform becomes effective Friday” and reported that “Persons … having business in the Law Courts will have better facilities, both in the arrangements and procedure of cases and physical conditions, as the new laws affecting Grand Court and Judicature come into effect.” The article also reported that a new police law that dealt mainly with the powers of arrest was to implemented as well.

Changes included that people seeking maintenance and affiliation dues through the courts would be able to obtain these through better procedures, and new forms were being introduced. The method of suing for debt was also simplified.

The changes would result in fewer juries being needed, and a new divorce law was introduced too. In total, 18 new laws were being introduced after being passed by the Legislative Assembly.

An article titled “Mystery plane leaves’ reported that a “huge DC-8 former Delta Airlines jet, dubbed a ‘mystery aircraft’ after its unannounced arrival during mid-July has quietly and mysteriously departed.” The plane had been part of a fleet of 21 such aircraft being retired and offered for sale by Delta. It had remained parked and locked at Owen Roberts Airport for nearly two months while it was being registered to the new owners.

“Rental fees for parking privileges during the time it took to complete reregistration of the aircraft were $22 per day, which in this case came to a whopping figure of nearly $1,500 for the Cayman government.”

A photo of librarian Ina Panton and the George Town Public Library appeared on the front page. The photo was snapped by Sheila and Bob McGee, who won the Caymanian Compass Photo competition.

In the Friday, 1 Oct. issue, a photo appeared on the front page titled “A guide to the natural history of the Cayman Islands” and showed Aileen Smith, who handled art direction for the book, Nancy Sefton, editor-coordinator for the projects, and Brian Uzzell, managing editor of Cayman Free Press.

The editorial was titled “Judicial and legal reform” and discussed the new set of laws that came into effect on 1 Oct.

“In strict terms, the Grand Court in Cayman previously had the status which could well be described as one just above a Resident Magistrate’s Court in Jamaica and a little below that of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth countries. However, none can gainsay the fact that our Grand Court has always performed its functions with the dignity and decorum, which the highest resident Court in the land demands.”

The editorial said that it was good to learn that the Grand Court’s “Return Day” was to be abolished, as well as the necessity for juries to sit on coroner’s inquiries and matrimonial and divorce cases.

An advertisement appeared on page 12 for Tops Restaurant in West Bay, sharing “autumn season prices” for curried goat, codfish and ackee, and stewed conch, as well as other dishes, for $3.50. Stewed turtle was $4.

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