THIS DAY IN OUR PAST
The following events took place on February 24 in the years identified:
1932:
A bill entitled a Law to I mpose a Tax on Tourists is introduced in the Legislative Council by the attorney general. The object of the bill is to impose a tax of ten shillings on every tourist who comes to any port of Jamaica. ‘Tourist’ is defined to be a person who is lawfully on-board any ship or aircraft and who comes to the island for health, pleasure, or business purpose, and who does not propose to remain in the island for one month, at least. The tax is to be collected from the transport companies bringing tourists to Jamaica or their agents, who are to make monthly returns to the treasurer of all persons in respect of whom the tax is payable. 1969:
Birthday greetings are extended to former prime minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Sir Alexander Bustamante, by the prime minister and members of the Cabinet, at Sir Alexander’s Irish Town residence. The occasion is Sir Alexander’s 85th birthday. And the fond regard with which party members hold their leader is expressed as they sing “Happy Bir thday to Busta,” after birthday greetings are extended by the prime minister.
1955.
The r eason for t he reservoir not having been filled in 1968 was that it had been very nearly emptied due to the demands made on it during the unusually severe drought of 1967 and 1968; also due to the severely denuded hills in the Hope River catchment, which result in flash floods lasting for perhaps two hours and conveying large quantities of sand, boulders and other debris, which cannot be taken in through the intake works of the Hope River without choking the intake and the conduit leading to the reservoir.
– GLEANER ARCHIVES