The
period 1983-1993 saw a change in the economic
climate of Jamaica, as first a world recession
depleted Jamaica's fortunes, especially in bauxite,
and a blossoming economic stability was near-
ruined by the worst hurricane in Jamaica's history
on September 12, 1988. A change of government
from the Jamaica Labour Party to the Peoples
National Party on February 9, 1989, did not
alter the economic philosophy at work, for Mr.
Michael Manley declared that the PNP had embraced
the free market economic system with the private
sector as the engine of development.
Accordingly,
determined efforts were made to 'free up' the
economy with the acceleration of privatization
of Government hotels begun by the previous JLP
Government, and the expansion of privatization
to Government properties, sugar estates, and so
on.
The
Exchange Control Act was abolished, and exchange
rates were justify to respond to the fluctuations
of the market. In the period 1983-85, the economy
was hard put to remain stable, and massive loans
were sought and obtained to keep it alive. However,
from 1986 to 1988 the economy strengthened with
the dollar remaining stable at JA$5.50 to US$1.
In 1986, the PNP had defeated the JLP in Local
Government Elections winning 128 seats to the
JLP's 59 and taking over control of all Councils
except for St. Thomas. The PNP repeated its dominance
in Local Government Elections in 1990 when it
won 136 seats to the JLP's 51 and kept control
of all Councils, again with the exception of St.
Thomas. On February 9, 1989, the PNP defeated
the JLP with its slogan 'We put people first.'
The PNP won 45 seats to the JLP's 15, but with
the defection of Mr. Karl Samuda from the JLP
to the PNP, the House division became 46 PNP and
14 JLP members. The PNP called early General Elections
in 1993. Once again, the PNP defeated the JLP,
this time by 52 seats to 8.
Prime
Minister P.J.Patterson was returned to office
and retained his Leadership of the Peoples National
Party. In March 1992, Mr. Michael Manley resigned
as Prime Minister and Leader of the PNP. He was
succeeded by Mr. P. J. Patterson who defeated
Miss Portia Simpson in a party run-off. General
Elections to Parliament 1980, 1983, 1989, 1993.
Jamaica
received much aid from the USA, Canada, UK and
Europe and Japan during the period 1983 to 1993.
Sir Florizel Glasspole retired as Governor-General
in 1991, after having served for eighteen years
since May 1973 during both PNP and JLP Governments.
Sir Howard Cooke, former PNP Minister of Education,
succeeded him. Sir Howard and his wife, Lady Cooke,
have been following in the tradition set by the
late Sir Clifford Campbell and Sir Florizel Glasspole
and their distinguished spouses.
The
International Monetary Fund continued in the 80s
and 90s to influence Jamaica's economic policy
because, to get international assistance and loans,
the IMF 'certificate' was obligatory. In 1993,
the Government declared that the three-year loan
agreement with the IMF, which demanded quarterly
tests on the economy, would be Jamaica's last
loan from the IMF.
In
1983 Lawrence Rowe led a rebel West
Indies Cricket team to play in apartheid South
Africa. A Carl Stone Poll showed that 68 percent
of those tested supported the team's decision
to play there.
The
Jamaican dollar moved from J$1.78 to U$$1, and
to J$3.15 to US$1 by the end of the year.
In
October 1983, Jamaica and Barbados accepted
the call made by Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica
to send troops to Grenada to act as police in
charge of prisoners taken by the US troops.
The US had invaded Grenada to seize power from
Communists in the Maurice Bishop Government
who had overthrown Prime Minister Bishop and
then assassinated him and some of his Ministers.
The rebels were keeping the Governor General,
Sir Paul Scoon, hostage in the Governor General's
residence. Cubans were assisting the Grenadian
Communists, an some died in the fighting following
the invasion. There were no Jamaican casualties.
Grenada returned to elective Governments in
1994.
The
PNP under Mr. Michael Manley did not contest
the elections held on December 15, and the governing
JLP, won all 60 seats under Prime Minister Edward
Seaga. This was the shortest JLP term in Jamaica's
history (1980-83).
In
1984 the Gleaner celebrated 150 years
of publication and, with the co-operation of the
Minister of Education, Dr. Mavis Gilmour, CIDA,
USAID, UNESCO and thirty-three private sector
companies, launched the Primary Textbook Scheme
which assured all children attending primary schools
of a number of textbooks free of cost. The books
were printed on newsprint.
The
Auditor General's Report again referred to irregularities
in Government Departments.
The
Hon. Edwin Allen, O.J., the Minister of Education
responsible for the New Deal in Education in
1965, died at age 78 in February. In August,
the Centenary of the birth of the National Hero
Alexander Bustamante, was celebrated at several
functions.
In
1985 Canasol, a new drug developed
from cannabis (or ganja), was introduced by the
Hon. Professor Manley West and the Hon. Dr.Albert
Lockhart for the treatment of glaucoma, an eye
disease. Both were awarded the Order of Merit
in 1987.
A
World Bank project was launched for a pilot
group of All Age Schools to be upgraded and
for a common curriculum for the 12 to 15 age
groups.
In
1986 in June there was a high toll
of death and damage from flood rains. In July
the PNP won the local Government elections.
First
degrees, Bachelor of Education, granted by the
College of Arts, Science and Technology. Others
to be awarded in Home Economics and Engineering.
In
1987 in February the Hon. Edna Manley,
O.M., widow of National Hero, the Right Excellent
Norman Manley, and mother of former Prime Minister
Michael Manley and of Dr. Douglas Manley. She
was given a State funeral and was buried beside
her husband in the Shrine area of National Heroes
Park.
In
April, flood rains caused havoc in Clarendon,
St. Catherine and Portland.
The
Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of
Britain, visited Jamaica in July.
In
August, Jamaica celebrated 'Jamaica 25', the
25th Anniversary of Jamaican Independence.
President
Miguel de la Madrid of Mexico visited in August
and President Dr. Auelt Masire of Botswana,
Africa, in October.
The
Centenary of the birth of National Hero Marcus
Garvey was celebrated at several functions.
His son Dr. Julius Garvey and Coretta Scott
King, widow of famed Nobel Prize winner Martin
Luther King, visited and shared in the celebrations.
Flood
rains in April, killed one person and wreaked
havoc in Clarendon, St. Catherine and Portland.
Over
150 AIDS cases reported.
In
1988 The Year of the Worker was celebrated.
The PNP marked the 50th anniversary of its founding
on September 18, 1938. Dr. Julius Nyerere, former
President of Tanzania, was guest Speaker at a
Founders Day Banquet in June.
A
heavy earthquake hit Jamaica on May 16, the
strongest in 30 years.
The
Jamaica Record, a new daily newspaper, appeared
in July.
A
$50 Bill with portrait of Sam Sharpe (National
Hero) was issued in July.
An
agreed political code of conduct was signed
by the JLP and the PNP in August and Mr. Justice
Kerr was appointed Ombudsman for Political Affairs.
On
September 12, Hurricane Gilbert devastated Jamaica.
Hundreds of houses were destroyed and agriculture
was severely affected. Forty-five people died
as a result of the storm. Gilbert was the first
hurricane in 37 years to hit Jamaica directly.
It travelled the full length of the island from
Morant Point to Negril Point, with winds of
up to 265 km (160 miles) per hour. Help came
to Jamaica from many countries, mobilized by
the government. A one-month State of Emergency
from Sept 14 to Oct 14 was observed in St. Thomas,
St. Catherine, and the corporate area.
A
Secondary and High School Book Rental Scheme
was launched, with loan assistance from British
Government. The first phase of plan to upgrade
Secondary to High Schools was introduced, and
some new Technical High Schools were established.
On
November 11, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on
the Richter Scale rocked the island.
The
University Council of Jamaica Secretariat introduced.
The Council has the power to approve or to reject
tertiary education programmes and degrees.
In
1989, in February, the Peoples National
Party led by Mr. Michael Manley defeated the governing
Jamaica Labour Party led by the Prime Minister
Edward Seaga by 45 seats to 15. A new cabinet
took office.
Sir
Florizel Glasspole, now eighty years of age,
declared that in 1990 he would step down from
being Governor General.
Sir
Philip Sherlock, former UWI Vice Chancellor,
was awarded the Order of Merit. The Hon. Theodore
Sealy, former Editor of the Gleaner, was awarded
the Order of Jamaica.
The
new radio stations, KLAS, Irie FM, and Radio
Waves began broadcasting.
The
distinguished Hon. Carlton Alexander died on
Labour Day May 23. He was an outstanding businessman
and philanthropist, and Managing Director of
Grace, Kennedy Ltd.
The
dollar moved from J$5.50 to US$1 to J$6.50 to
US$1.
The
National Association of the Teachers of English
recommended that dialect be used to support
English in schools.
In
1990 "Hardships there were, but
stability too" said the Gleaner in Summarizing
the year. 51% of a Carl Stone poll opposed big
salary increases to Cabinet Ministers and MPs.
JLP Opposition was split by the dismissal of five
MPs from the Opposition Shadow Cabinet. A Carl
Stone Poll showed that 49% of the respondents
opposed the dismissal.
Mr.
Alistair McIntyre assumed the Vice-Chancellorship
of the University of the West Indies, and Professor
Leslie Robinson became Principal of the Mona
Campus of the UWI.
Shabba
Ranks became an international Dance Hall Reggae
star.
In
1991 Nelson Mandela, the Leader of
the African National Congress in South Africa
visited Jamaica in July with his wife, Winnie.
The two days of their visit were "emotionally
charged" as the welcome was tumultuous, perhaps
the most tumultuous since the visit of Emperor
Haile Selassie in 1966. Mr. Mandela was given
an honorary degree by the University of the West
Indies.
Sir
Florizel Glasspole, Governor General since 1973,
retired and was succeeded by Sir Howard Cooke
who took office on August 1. Sir Clifford Campbell,
the first native Governor General (appointed
November 1962), and the second Governor General
after Sir Kenneth Blackburne (who was Governor
General from August 1962 to November1962) died
in September at age 90.
A
General Consumption Tax was introduced replacing
several taxes and duties. The rate was 10 percent
of most things bought or professional services
rendered. There were some exemptions for example,
petrol and basic foodstuffs.
In
1992 the Rt. Hon. Mr. Michael Manley,
PNP Leader and Prime Minister, resigned in March
for reasons of health. The Rt. Hon. P.J Patterson
who had defeated the Hon. Portia Simpson for the
succession to Mr. Manley as PNP Leader in an election
conducted at the National Arena succeeded him.
The
Jamaica Record ceased publication in July, and
the Jamaica Herald began publication in July,
thus becoming the country's third daily the
others being the Daily Gleaner and the Star.
Power
106, a new independent radio station, began
broadcasting.
In
1993 Merlene Ottey was crowned "Queen
of Athletics" on winning The gold medal at
Stuttgart, Germany, in August at the World Games.
The Government named her Special Envoy.
Sugar
factories were privatized in this year, following
the earlier privatization of the Marcus Garvey
Building, the Wyndham Hotel, the National Commercial
Bank and several other Government properties.
Lisa
Hanna won the Miss World Beauty crown in South
Africa. She became the third Jamaican to win
the Miss World Crown, the others being Joan
Crawford in 1963 and Cindy Breakspeare in 1976.
Tourism
became the top foreign exchange earner, bringing
US $953 million into the economy.
Free
education was replaced by cost-sharing education
at the secondary level.
A
new television station, CVM TV, began operating
in 1993.
The
Observer newspaper began as a weekly in late
1992.
Pope
John Paul II visited Jamaica in August.
Reform
of secondary education, R.O.S.E., began, funded
by the World Bank.
LOVE
FM, a religious radio station, began broadcasting.
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