THIS DAY IN OUR PAST
The following events took place on Month xx in the years identified:
1979:in The industrial crisis
the public sector worsens as unionised workers start protesting against what they say is the Government’s attitude toward their claim for improved wages, and civil servants threatened to take similar action. Health services in rural areas are being affected by a stoppage of ancillary staff. Other workers within the bargaining group in central and local government are likely to follow. In addition, the Industrial Disputes Tribunal did not continue hearings into the civil servants’ claim for pay increases and the president of the Jamaica Civil Service Association warns of possible industrial action. 1987:promotion The largest export
ever put on locally by the Jamaica National Export Corporation (JNEC) is opened by the American Ambassador Michael Sortirhos at The Pegasus hotel. Speaking before a large assembly of buyers and exhibitors. He says: “This is designed to give the Jamaican private sector the opportunity to convince importers that Jamaican products are the ones to buy.” He says the JNEC, through its Trade Commissioner Service, is working hard to generate a market for Jamaican products. The ambassador notes that the exhibits are particularly exciting as they are not traditional Jamaican exports, offering an opportunity for Jamaica to diversify its foreign exchange base. 1999:inadequate The cramped,
council chamber of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), now 75 years old, is to be refurbished and expanded at a cost of US$600,000 (J$24m). Chief technical officer in the Ministry of Local Government, Patrick Wong, tells councillors at their monthly meeting that the money will be provided as a loan by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He says at the end of the refurbishing, the meeting room will be able to accommodate comfortably 40 councillors, 20 invited guests and 30 persons in the public gallery. “The work, which will be concentrated on the first floor of the KSAC’s offices at 24 Church Street, downtown Kingston, will see the mayor’s parlour and deputy mayor’s offices relocated. A caucus room, the first for any parish council, will be added. It will have facilities to accommodate video equipment. A reconfiguration of floors, walls and ceilings leading to the Council Chamber will also be done, and restrooms will be improved to cater for men and women separately.