THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on March 3 in the years identified:

1931:The second reading of a bill for the more effectual prevention and punishment of bribery and corruption of and by members of the Legislative Council, officers and servants of corporations, councils, parochial and other boards, commissions or other public bodies, is passed in the Legislative Council practically without discussion.

1931:The the committee report of appointed to enquire into and report on the question of the immigration of aliens in Jamaica is laid on the table of the Legislative Council. The committee is of the opinion that it is necessary, in the public interest, that steps should be taken to restrict the entry of immigrants of Asiatic origin, Chinese and Syrians, into Jamaica and suggest that for the next three years, such entry be prohibited, save and except in the case of bona fide wives of immigrants established in business and permanently residing in Jamaica.

1948:Declaring that the

Constitution of

Jamaica is not the personal possession of any one person, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr C.M. Aitcheson, suspends Minister of Communication and Leader of the Majority Party in the House, W. Alexander Bustamante, for the rest of the day’s sitting for disobeying the orders of the chair.

1966:Queen Elizabeth arrives in Jamaica for a four-day visit accompanied by HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. It is a bright, full day from sunrise offshore, when the Queen’s Yacht, the Britannia, is escorted into Kingston Harbour by a colourful flotilla of local small craft until near midnight under the scintillating fairy lights on the grounds of King’s House, where the official reception is held.

1972:Prime Minister Michael Manley announces a 21-day amnesty for the surrender of illegal firearms.