This Day In Our Past: Jan 30

1967: A Total of 115 candidates are nominated for the 1967 General Election between 12 noon and 2 o’clock. The two major Political Parties are contesting all seats with 53 candidates each, there are two Jamaica United Party candidates, one Republican Party Candidate, one Jamaica We Party candidate, three Independent Labour candidates, one Independent PNP candidate and one Independent.

1967: Firemen fights for more than 14 hours to put out a fire which destroys stocks of the Acme Products Corporation, 48-50 Matthews Lane, and did damage to machinery and building. Up to late evening the firefighters are still pouring water on smouldering rubble on the upper floor where stocks of paper products, ice cream cones and spices are kept. The building is owned by Mr. Charles Moo who heads the company.

1973: A proposal for the installation of a completely computerized traffic signal control system in the Corporate Area to facilitate the smooth flow of metropolitan traffic is endorsed by the Minister of Local Government, Mrs. Rose Leon, according to a JJS release. The recommendations contained in a 116-page document presented to the Minister by the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Eli Matalon, calls for the replacement of the present single control method used at each intersection with the operation of a central control unit, covering a number of intersections.

1973: The Jamaica Railway Corporation’s (JRC) diesel passenger, services out of Kingston are not expected to return to normal during this week as a result of a work stoppage by weekly and monthly paid employees of the Corporation. Representatives of the J.R.C. and the Unions

Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (B.I.T.U.), National Workers Union (N.W.U.) have a meeting at the Ministry of Labour which ends without an agreement being reached.

1980: No new regulations regarding the supply of gasoline to consumers will be enforced until the Cabinet has taken a decision on the matter, the Ministry of Mining says. Reversing its announcement on Monday, January 28, 1980 that new opening hours for gas stations will come into effect on January 31, 1980, the Ministry says that “current regulations including the hours of opening of gas stations will remain in force until further notice.”

“To know what people really think,

pay regard to what they do,

rather than what they say.”

- George Santayana

Filename: Jan30EdwardSeaga11896719680130

1968: Edward Seaga, speaking at the opening of the new 17th century Grogge Shoppe at Devon