THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on August 28 in the years identified:

1998:will The team which

negotiate on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) begins two days of meetings in preparation for the crucial FTAA negotiations which starts in Miami on Monday, August 31. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson calls on the negotiators to look for opportunities to create economic growth for Caribbean economies. “We must go into the FTAA negotiations, indeed all external economic negotiations, with a determination to unearth opportunities that will help our economies to return to paths of vigorous and sustained growth,” he says. The College of Negotiators, as the team has been dubbed by chief negotiator Shridath Ramphal, is meeting at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. 2001:representatives

Community from central Kingston and facilitators from the Inner City Renewal Programme meet to discuss a raft of proposals for developing several inner-city communities in Kingston. For the most part, it is the community representatives from Allman Town, Woodford Park, Kingston Gardens and Campbell Town who set the agenda, with the principal aim being to get every person involved in improving his area. Craig Foreman, sports co-rdinator for the combined communities, says this means getting more young persons aware and involved with plans to expand recreational areas. Kenneth Campbell, a youth leader from Kingston Gardens, says it also provides a chance for unity. “I am expecting a good vibrant community thing to start up, especially if we can get everybody to unite. If we have unity, it will be accomplished.”

– The Gleaner Archives