THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on May 13 in the years identified:

1977: United States printer, Steve Williams turns in a tremendous run in the final 30 metres to win the star-studded Pepsi 100 metres at the Norman Manley Invitational Meet at the National Stadium, in a winning time of 10.26 seconds. Second was Steve Riddick in 10.31 and third was Houston McTear 10.33, all of the United States. Olympic gold medallist in the event, Hasely Crawford of Trinidad only managed fourth place with 10.35 seconds. Jamaica’s Donald Quarrie placed fifth.

1977: Prime Minister Michael Manley leaves Jamaica for Mapotu, Mozambique, where he will be special guest speaker at a United Nations International Conference in support of the people of Zambia and Namibia.

1982: Minister of Public Utilities & Transportation, Pearnel Charles announces that 589 employees of the Jamaica Omnibus Service Company Limited are to be made redundant on May 14. The redundancies will cost the Government $3 million.

1987: Over 4,000 basicschool teachers and students witness the official launch of a five-year development Programme for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE) at the National Arena in Kingston. In launching the programme, Prime Minister Edward Seaga states that the little children are Jamaica’s most precious assets, because an improved generation of children will, in their time as adults, create the greatest forces for improving the society.