Spanish Town, 12 January 2026. Cuba's Ambassador-designate to Jamaica, Tania López Larroque, and the Second Secretary of this diplomatic mission, Rolando Dávila Gallardo, attended the ceremony marking the 49th anniversary of the José Martí Technical Secondary School, one of four educational centres donated by the Cuban people to their Jamaican brothers and sisters, which opened its doors on 10 January 1977.
During the event, Gary Mendez, president of the Graduates' Association, and Sandra Sawyer, chair of the institution's board of directors, described the school as a symbol of friendship between Cuba and Jamaica. They reiterated that the teaching staff, graduates and current students will continue to work to educate new generations, as a sign of gratitude and commitment following the gesture made by the Cuban people almost five decades ago.
In her remarks to those present, the Cuban diplomat conveyed Cuba's pride in the daily tribute to our National Hero in the actions of the school's teachers and students, who remain faithful to its motto, ‘Working and studying to be the complete man.’ She reaffirmed that the Cuban Revolution's vocation for solidarity and humanism will continue despite the serious limitations imposed by the genocidal policy of the blockade and the island's continued inclusion on the arbitrary list of state sponsors of terrorism.
As part of the event, an awards ceremony was held to recognise the outstanding work of a group of students in different academic fields.