THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on October 27 in the years identified:

1970:Manley The Barbara

Centre, established on Laws Street in Kingston by City Child Care Ltd, will soon be fully in operation as a result of a donation of US$5,000, about J$4,166, from the United States Government. The gift cheque, which is to help defray the cost of equipment for the centre’s medical, dental and eye clinics, is presented by American Ambassador Vincent deRoulet to Michael Manley, leader of the opposition and MP for Central Kingston, where the centre is located. The presentation is made at the centre. 1978:National

Youth Service workers will be exempt from paying National Insurance since the nature of their work is a voluntary one and what they receive is an allowance rather than wages. This is stated in the Senate by Justice Minister Carl Rattray, leader of government business in the Senate, when he presents a bill to amend the National Insurance Act. The bill is approved by the Senate. 1981:Minister Local Government

Pearnel Charles states that the Ministry of Local Government is studying proposals aimed at making more active use of firemen and involving communities in the art of firefighting. Charles is speaking at his ministry where the contract is signed for a $488,937 fire station at Negril.

A $30-million

development project, one of the first to flow from the Rockefeller US Business Committee to Jamaica, takes shape when agreements are signed at Jamaica House to bring it into being. As a first step towards restoration of the banana industry, 2,000 acres of prime land in the eastern section of the island is to be brought under cultivation, to produce top-quality fruit for the export market.“This project marks the beginning of the return of the banana industry to its former days of glory,” Prime Minister Edward Seaga says at the signing ceremony.

–The Gleaner Archives