THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on November 26 in the years identified:

1961: A partial outline of the Jamaica Labour Party’s programme for an Independent Jamaic is given by a team of speakers at the annual convention of the party in the Ward Theatre. Industrial development with focus on the island’s agricultural production, guaranteed marketing and distribution of Jamaica’s produce and the establishment of Vocational Training Camps for young people, are among the matters discussed.

1968: The House of Representatives passes a bill amending the Employment Regulation Law 1956, to provide more control of employment agencies and to impose stiffer penalties for persons who flout the regulations. The bill is taken through the House by Minister of Labour and National Insurance Lynden Newland and is supported by MP for North-Western, Manchester Ernest Peart and Minister of Education, Edwin Allen.

1980: A proposed truce between political factions in the troubled West St Andrew area falls through as People’s National Party (PNP) activists fail to turn up at the agreed place. Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters turn up at Balmagic Avenue and Joshua Edwards Avenue corner separating the Waterhouse (PNP) and Tower Hill (JLP) communities for the signing at 10 a.m. They had arrived by scores, and at 10:30 a.m. were waiting patiently for what to them was hope for a ray of peace and love. At around 11:25 a.m., a party of policemen arrived and advised them that the PNP representatives said they would not be signing a truce that day until certain differences among them were “ironed out”.