THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on March 23 in the years identified:

1969:Finance Minister of

Vernon Arnett anounces in the House of Representatives that property taxes are to be doubled as from April 1. The tax increase is to be applied to all the parishes of the island except St Catherine and St Ann, which started paying taxes, on the unimproved values in April 1968 since the deadline of March 1 for making charges in those parishes is passed for this year.

Roy McNeill, minis1971:ter

of home affairs with responsibility for the electoral system, reject charges that would-be voters had been disenfranchised in the current process of enumeration and registration. The projected total from the current exercise is 605,000 electors. 1973:Ground

is broken by Prime Minister Michael Manley for a sports complex at the official residence of the prime minister, Jamaica House. Facilities to be provided are two tennis courts, a football field, a cricket field, a 25-metre swimming pool with six lanes, a gymnasium, and a table tennis pavilion with room for two tables.

Vere Technical com1983:pletely

outclass the opposition to win the Girls’ Athletic Championships at Sabina Park. They amass 209 points, 133 more than second-placed Clarendon (76). Morant Bay placed third with 62 points. Queen’s, the highest-placed Corporate Area school, are fourth with 47. 1990:approach A comprehensive

to the Town Planning Department and to the development orders necessary for urban areas is to be presented to Parliament in proposed legislation before the end of the year. This is announced by Minister of State in the Ministry of Development, Planning and Production John Junor.