Radio May End Paradise Air of West Indies Island

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 23 January 1936, Page 9

Radio May End Paradise Air of West Indies Island

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov. 27. AN island paradise where time for centuries has stood still heard a belated warning of the march of progress over the week-end when wireless communication was established between Jamaica and Grand Cayman, one of her dependencies. I Lying 300 miles north-west of thn colony, Grand Cayman is llk "whitest." island in the West Indies. more than 4000 out of a total popnla tion of 5000 being from Hnglish stock. Many iOf the original settlers came to Jamaica about the time Charles II was put on the throne and when his governor began to maki trouble for them here they moved to Grand Cayman. Others are deeendant.of English pirates and shipwrecked seamen who were the terrors of tin Caribbean more than 200 years ago

Piracy that brought, uncertain rewardwas abandoned for the easier trade ol wrecking—luring ships ashore b\ false beacon fires.

A religious people, they habitually prayed that ships would be caught on the coral reef bounding I he island, and a story is told how a congregation who ran out into a storm to loot a wroek were hailed by the parson: "Brethren, wait for the benediction an 'Jet's all start fair.*". But. to-day the Grand Caymans are described sis the happiest and most law-abiding people in the world. So peaceful have they become that it is said the only sin they commit is in dropping their h 's. Although British administrators have brought, in some modern inventions, most of the islanders still show traces of Elizabethan England in their mode of living and shun innovations. There is no poverty among them. They build comfortable cottages—one to an acre of land that raises all the fruit and vegetables they require. although agriculture is still primitive. Sturdy vessels for Caribbean trade unci fishing bring a harvest from the sea.

The chief source of interest in the island for some years has been through anthropologists, who have yet to discover marked injurious effects of in breeding in the strong healthy peoph

Until Governor Sir Edward Douhaui, of Jamaica, formally opened the wire less service on Saturday, the only communication with Grand Cayman was bv boat.