THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on March 19 in the years identified:

The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) wins from the National Workers Union bargaining rights on behalf of workers employed to Goodyear Jamaica Limited in Springfield, St Thomas. A poll conducted at the Ministry of Labour and Employment sees the BITU gaining 143 of the 150 votes polled. E. Everrett of the Ministry of Labour and Employment presides at the poll, which is attended by representatives of both unions.

New measures within the hotel sector, which require that all transactions be made in Jamaican dollars, goes into effect to what is described by most north coast hoteliers as a fairly smooth start. Up to late afternoon, a number of hotels are busily revising their price lists as they prepared to discard the old ones quoted in United States currency. However, several of the smaller hotels say that the new price lists to be quoted in Jamaican dollars will not be ready before another four days. The larger hotels anticipate an even longer period for a complete revision of prices. The new measure was announced by Prime Minister Edward Seaga on Friday, March 16, as the Government prepares to institute a new foreign exchange system. Lubricating oil was spilled in the Montego Bay Harbour by a cruise ship. Reports say it is accidental. The which docks in Montego Bay, stops at the Montego Freeport and is refuelling when a washer burst under pressure, causing about 150 gallons of lubricating oil to spill into the water, covering an area of about 200 square feet. Up to late afternoon, a team of environmentalists and technicians are hard at work cleaning up the slick from the shoreline, which still shows evidence of the spill. Manager for the Marine Park, Leslie Walling, says the crew members responded quickly and were able to contain the oil slick before it could cause any damage to marine life. However, he added that the oil had spread ashore, covering 150 square feet of shoreline.

– GLEANER ARCHIVES