THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on August 20 in the years identified:

1970:Negotiations for the West Indies Sugar Company (WISCo) to sell all its lands to the Government, except those carrying factories and ancillary operations, are now actively in progress, a statement released by WISCo in London to shareholders and the stock exchange, discloses. The negotiations have started, according to the statement, on the basis of a wish expressed by Prime Minister, Hugh Shearer on July 16, for arrangements to be entered into by which land would be made available for cultivation by local cane farmers.

1973:King’s At a special ceremony at House, Donald Quarrie, co-world record holder of the 200-metre title, is awarded the Badge of Honour by Governor General, Florizel Glasspole. The award, the first to be received by an athlete since the inception of the awards in 1971, is usually handed out on National Heroes Day but Quarrie, as the governor general says, is such a difficult man to catch, it is decided to make the award to him. 1989:urged Jamaica’s teachers are

to redouble their efforts to encourage more young people to enter the teaching profession. Mr Robert Haughton-James, pastor of the St Richard’s Church in Kingston, makes this plea one day ahead of the business session of the 25th annual conference of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, which begins in Ocho Rios on August 22.