THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on September 8 in the years identif ied:

1986:declared Journalism Week is

open in Montego Bay by the city’s mayor, Councillor Milton Stewart, who challenges journalists to “never bow to political or financial consideration”. Addressing members of the Jamaica Association of Journalists, who pay him a courtesy call at his office, Mr Stewart says, “Let us hope that the tradition of press freedom will be strongly defended by all associated with the association”. 1999:Patterson Prime Minister P.J.

officially launches the 1999-2000 school year with news of a new education policy aimed at wiping out illiteracy in four years. “We are about to put out the draft of a new education policy that sets as a target, the creation of literacy 100 per cent throughout Jamaica no later than the year 2003,” he tells the audience gathered for the launch at the Noel Holmes Auditorium in Montego Bay. The launch, an elaborate affair featuring exhibitions from a number of educational institutions, gets off to a late start as Mr Patterson toured his alma mater, the Somerton All-Age School, before reaching the auditorium. The prime minister tells the audience of educators and children that there is no need to be afraid of admitting that Jamaica has a literacy problem. “The struggle to achieve literacy is not confined to Jamaica, and that is why today is universally recognised as World Literacy Day,” he says. 2001:Maxine

HenryWilson, general secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP), is confirmed as her party’s candidate for St Andrew South East in the next general election, following the private session of the constituency’s conference. Senator HenryWilson, who is also minister of information, is elected unopposed to replace incumbent PNP MP and former Environment Minister Easton Douglas, sources tell The Gleaner.