Mr. Allan McKenzie (second right), acting accountant general, receiving a certificate from Mr. Franz Botek (second left), secretary of the Jamaica Telephone Company for 4.5 million shares in the company. Looking on (from left) are Mr. Malcolm Holmes, managing director of the company; Dr. Vincent Lawrence, Government member on the company's board of directors; and the Hon. Eric Bell , Minster of Public Utilities, Communications and Transport, in whose office at the ministry the presentation took place in February 1974. - FILE
ADMINISTRATION
March 17, 1959: Noel Nethersole, Minister of Finance, died suddenly of a heart attack while finalising the Budget for the financial year 1959/60.
March 18, 1967: Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Donald Sangster, complained about an upset stomach while he was at a cottage in Newcastle in St. Andrew where he had been working on the 1967/68 Budget with his officials and advisers during the previous two days.
AGRICULTURE
March 19, 1936: A shipment of 5,000 lbs of pimento was sent from Jamaica to the Dominican Republic to be used by condiment dealers and rum manufacturers.
TRADE
March 20, 1934: The United States Federal Alcohol Control announced that liquor which arrived at U.S. ports between May 1 and June 30 would be admitted into the country without limit provided the usual customs duties were paid and it was imported by importers who held an Alcohol Beverages Industry Permit. The decision led to immediate plans by Jamaican rum producers to arrange for large quantities of rum stored in warehouses to be shipped to the U.S. during those two months.
AGRICULTURE
March 21, 1947: The first shipment of Bombay mangoes from Jamaica since the end of World War Two arrived in London, England. They were immediately distributed to green grocers where they were sold for ten and twelve shillings each.
FINANCE
March 22, 1933: A return with regard to the value of properties in Jamaica for taxation, as well as the national debt of the colony was laid on the table of the Legislative Council. The value of the properties was £17,280,000, and the national debt, excluding the amount owed by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and the Parochial Boards was £4,692,681. 3/-3.
March 23, 1980: Eric Bell resigns as Minister of Finance and Planning 24 hours after the national executive council of the People's National Party votes in favour of the Government breaking off negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
- Compiled by Hartley Neita
