THIS DAY IN OUR PAST
The following events took place on November 8 in the years identified:
1987:gather War veterans at the Cenotaph in National Heroes Park, Kingston, where Jamaicans, led by grand patron and president of the Jamaica Legion, Florizel Glasspole, lay wreaths and pay homage to them. Grim-faced, but without anguish, the old soldiers stand to observe the very moving ceremony, remembering those from among their ranks who died in both World Wars. The ceremony, which takes the form of a religious service, starts with the singing of the hymn O God our Help in Ages Past, followed by the observance of two minutes of silence as a mark of respect. This period begins and ends with a one-gun salute.
1995:comes P. J. Patterson face to face with angry, jobless citizens when he tours sections of the inner-city area of central Kingston. Patterson is there to visit social projects but what he sees is a group of dissatisfied residents and he gets an earful. They complain of poverty, neglect and poor representation. They vent their wrath on Member of Parliament Leslie Lloyd, saying he has done nothing for them and is rarely seen in the constituency. Patterson tells members of the People’s National Party stronghold that his government will speed up its poverty alleviation programme.
2000:Children’s The Gleaner’s Own Spelling Bee 2001 Competition kicks off with spelldowns taking place in Clarendon and Kingston. The Clarendon leg of the competition sees 41 children vying for the coveted title of parish champion and, more important, the opportunity to compete in the all-island finals in 2001. The line of spellers dwindles slowly but steadily, and in less than an hour the champion is crowned. Girls claim four of the top five places. Taieka Byrd, representative of Kemps Hill High School, claims the parish champion title, with Anatea Lewin, of Mineral Heights Primary, placing second, and Debra Hamilton, of Cross Primary, placing third. The lone boy, Dwayne Whyte, of Smithville Primary, places fourth and also is named boys’ champion. Kristina Rankine of Knox High places fifth to complete the top five.