THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on May 18 in the years identified:

1983: Two leaders in the garment industry arrive in island on a four-day visit to explore joint-venture possibilities, and is welcomed by Minister of Industry and Commerce Douglas Vaz, who describes their visit as “fortuitous”. They are Daniel Kaesman, president of Burlington Mills Trading Company of the United States, the world’s largest textile manufacturer, and Wing Kee Chan, deputy managing director of Hong Kong’s largest garment manufacturing firm, Yangtzekiang. Vaz makes his comment at a breakfast meeting organised by the Kingston Export Free Zone, Jamaica National Investment Promotion, and Jamaica National Export Corporation in honour of the visitors. Noting that the visit is fortuitous as it comes at a time when the local garment industry has been selected as Jamaica’s fastest-growing area for growth, the minister says: “The marriage that we hope will result from this visit is one that will utilise Hong Kong technology, Burlington Mills’ supply, and Jamaican knowhow and skills”.

1995: Operators at the Kingston Free Zone are outraged at a proposed 32 per cent increase in the cost of factory space, and are hinting at a walkout on Jamaica. But, with this coming 11 years after the last increase, the Kingston Free Zone management says it needs a better deal to meet debt-servicing and maintenance obligations and keep the zone afloat, including providing for gradual expansion. Pointing to the fact that their business is done in US dollars, the operators argue that rental rates in that currency have remained constant globally.