THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on March 17 in the years identified:

In a driving finish, Truly Gallant scrambles home by a short head from Majority Rule in the 11th renewal of the ‘C’ class mileand-quarter feature race for the Williamson Cup at Caymanas Park. Owned by S&G Stables, trained by Howard Phillips and ridden by the 7lb claiming apprentice Steve Cross, the six-year-old chestnut gelding is posting his third consecutive win and his fourth since the start of the season, and does so at odds of 3-1.

P.J. Patterson says that the ability to successfully implement Government’s policies and programmes should be the decisive factor as to who succeeds Michael Manley as leader of the People’s National Party and as prime minister of Jamaica. At a press conference at PNP headquarters in Kingston where he formally launches his campaign for the top government post, the former finance minister says: “The succession to leadership of the PNP differed fundamentally in at least one respect from the process in 1969. Then we had three years to prepare for state power, which came with our overwhelming victory at the polls in 1972. This time, however, “time does not permit us the l uxury of the learning curve. We are in midstream. The present and the future success of this administration cannot rest with personalities and slogans. It must rest with the ability to successfully implement the policies and programmes consistent with the course on which we are embarked.” Sprint champion Merlene Ottey is awarded the 1993 Gleaner Honour Award. She is lauded for quietly demonstrating the highest and most exemplary quality of character in victory, as well as in disappointment and defeat. The accolades come from University of the West Indies professor of English, Edward Baugh, who says that “no choice of Jamaica” as t he recipient of the 1993 Gleaner Honour Award “could be more comprehensively popular than the choice of the Honourable Merlene.”

– GLEANER ARCHIVES