FIRST DAY IN OFFICE: Prime Minister The Hon. Michael Manley at his desk in his East Race Course office after he made an official tour of the office for the first time since he was sworn in as Prime Minister. He also toured the Minstries of External Affairs, Finance and Defence during which time he spoke to the members of staff. Mr. Manley also visited the Hon. David Coore, deputy prime minister and Minister of Finance, in Mr. Coore's office.

His first call to the people of Jamaica was to "put work into Labour Day". Thousands responded by carrying out 454 community projects. Thirty basic schools were either repaired, painted or built; dozens of other schools were repaired and painted, scores of public parks were cleaned and tons of garbage and rubble cleared from public places. At least 10 homes for old and disabled persons were built or repaired. Jamaican nurses from abroad came and worked in hospitals. Private doctors tended to patients and performed surgeries, and tourists joined Jamaicans on community projects in the resort areas.

A year later, he announced that tuition fees would no longer be paid by students attending grant-aided secondary schools and there would also be free tuition for university education for all Jamaicans qualifying for and gaining entrance at the University of the West Indies. In addition, all subsidiary school services such as games, home economics, drama classes and other such extra-curricula activities would be available free for all children.

These two programmes, along with a raft of social and economic initiatives such as a literacy programme, the establishment of a Worker's Bank, equal pay for women, were in pursuit of the challenge thrown to his generation by his father for "the social and economic reform of Jamaica".

1974: Lawrence Rowe (left), Jamaica and West Indies batting stylist, being greeted by Prime Minister (PM) Michael Manley yesterday when the star cricketer paid a courtesy call on the PM at Jamaica House. Rowe had recently returned home after his first year as a professional for Derbyshire in the English County Championships.

Prime Minister The Hon. Michael Manley and Mrs. Manley view a parade of costumed groups from the royal box during the festival grand gala, at the National Stadium.