1 Jamaican poet, short story writer and illustrator Lorna Goodison published her first collection of poems, Tamarind Season.

2 Since 1980, the Government has been assisted by the international financial institutions as they have been a part of a macroeconomic and structural reform programme.

3 Montego Bay is proclaimed a city by act of Parliament.

4 On July 31, Hurricane Allen hit Jamaica causing eight deaths and $64 million worth of damage.

5 Randolph (Mass Ran) Samuel Williams held his last pantomime The Honourable All Purpus and the Dancing Princess before his death on August 11.

6 In the Moscow games, Merlene Ottey won an Olympic medal and became the first female English-speaking Caribbean athlete to do so.

7 The award of Order of Jamaica was given to Victor Stafford Reid.

8 The Order of Distinction for Service in the field of sports and an Officer in the Order of the Nation were awarded to Merlene Ottey.

9 On September 23, Bob Marley’s final concert was held at the Stanley Theatre — now called the Benedum Centre for the Performing Arts — in Pennsylvania.

10 October 30, Edward Seaga became prime minister, winning the election by a landslide because the People’s National Party did not contest the election. His outstanding achievement lead to Fortune Magazine acclaiming him a Man of the Year, the first and only such title given to anyone in this region.