THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

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

1952: Heavy rains washed out the opening rounds of the Brandon Trophy Lawn Tennis Championships at the St Andrew Club, after just five games had been played and just when things had begun to look interesting with the Guyanese stars, Derek Phang and Keith Tang, holding their own against Lester Kirkcaldy and Eddie Aris of Jamaica.

1956: Approval was given by the House of Representatives for the establishment of a Municipal Service Commission as a further step in the reform of local government in Jamaica. The bill enabling the establishment of the commission was carried through in all its stages on the motion of Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr Glendon Logan. The main function of the commission was to consider and make recommendations to the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation Council in matters relation to the appointment, promotion, removal and general discipline of certain grades of officers.

1984: The House of Representatives passed a bill amending the Representation of the People (Interim Electoral Reform) Act to allow the appointment of members to the Electoral Advisory Commission to be done by the governor general in the absence of a leader of the Opposition, a position currently vacant. While this was not stated specifically in the debate, the implication of the legislation was that it would pave the way for representatives of the People’s National Party to continue to serve on the commission.

1984: The House of Representatives increased the Contingencies Fund from $20 million to $34 million. Leader of the House and Minister of Labour J.A.G. Smith piloted a resolution to this effect.