Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer

LUCEA, Hanover:

The Rusea's Old Students' Association (ROSA) officially reopened the refurbished science laboratory at the junior campus of the Rusea's High School, at Fort Charlotte Drive, Lucea, during a handing-over ceremony yesterday.

The refurbishment works at Campus II, was sponsored by the Fiesta Hotel Group to the tune of $5 million, and followed an approach made by a group of ROSA members, including Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall; Justice Seymour Panton; Errald Miller, former president of Cable and Wireless Jamaica and president of ROSA, Lloyd Tomlinson. The Fiesta Hotel Group is currently constructing a 1,600-room hotel at Point Estate in Lucea.

In his address, Professor Hall commended Spanish Ambassador Jesús Silva, who was in attendance, for helping to ensure quick contact between ROSA and the Fiesta Hotel Group.

Strong support

"We thank the ambassador for his strong support," Professor Hall said. "It is an initiative of ROSA, of those who believe in Rusea's High School, its past, its present and its future.

"You are not working in a failed enterprise," Professor Hall said to the Spanish representatives which included Fiesta operations manager Jesus Sobriano. "There is a bright future for Hanover and the school, and partnership must be at the forefront of future transformation. When Martin Rusea left the land for this school to be built, he had no idea that two men with the title 'Most Honourable' wouldbe graduates of this school, or that the president of the highest court in Jamaica would be a graduate of this school"

The ambassador, in his address, said the gesture was a token of the friendship and partnership between Spain and Jamaica.

"You are a school that has fostered excellence in the past, and we will support this place of excellence and ensure it is well kept and supported. You have produced some of the most brilliant Jamaicans and you should be very proud," Ambassador Silva said.