Some of the people behind the project to restore New Seville Great House to its former glory are (from left) consultant architect, Patrick Stanigar; Luis Sarda de Abreu, specialist in exhibition spaces; Jorge Gil Cerracin, specialist in graphic design; Information, Sports and Culture Minister Olivia Grange and Spanish Ambasssador, Jesús Silva, pose for the camera following dinner at the Ambassador's residence on Wednesday. - Photos by Barbara Ellington

A small group of persons involved in a project to refurbish the New Seville Great House, with a view to making the site a major cultural, tourist and educational attraction, met to break bread with Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva and his wife, Sara, on Wednesday.

New Seville will celebrate 500 years of its foundation as the first Spanish capital of Jamaica this November. Within this framework, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation (SJF) have partnered to execute the project.

Guests of honour were two renowned Spanish designers, Luis Sarda de Abreu and Jorge Gil Cerracin, who are currently visiting Jamaica and working with various stakeholders in the project, and brought here courtesy of the SJF. Also present were the Jamaica National Heritage Trust's curator, Jonathan Greenland; architect Ann Hodges and Patrick Stanigar, consultant architect.

Speaking exclusively with The Gleaner, Cerracin, a graphic designer, revealed that having worked with Ambassador Silva in Spain, it was a pleasure to do so again here. "We will interpret and represent the different periods in Jamaican history at the Great House. We will also be working closely with the JNHT and, in the end, we hope it will be something of which all Jamaicans can be proud."

Hope for fruition

For his part, Ambassador Silva expressed a desire to see the project completed before his scheduled departure from the island a year from now. "This is special for me because New Seville is named for the place in Spain where I come from and I am very honoured that both Jorge and Luis are working for free and I hope we will meet our timeline ," he said.

Minister of Information, Sports and Culture, Olivia Grange thanked the ambassador and the foundation for doing so much for Jamaica. "I don't see many of these things happening without you being here in Jamaica. It seems as if you were made for Jamaica and I hope you know that even after you leave you will know that you are welcome to keep on returning as long as you like," Grange said.

Based on their vast knowledge and expertise in the area, it is expected that through Abreu and Cerracin the project will boast the latest technological designs and should replicate first-class European standards that will result in it being one of the most attractive historical museums in the wider Caribbean and the first of its kind in Jamaica.

Refurbished exhibition

The future refurbished exhibition centre will also include a pedagogical and educational section where information about the different historical periods and cultures formerly in Jamaica, are presented in an interactive way to students. There will also be a section on contemporary Jamaica and the region of St Ann.

Other guests at the dinner were Colin Smikle; Paul and Oriente Issa; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife, Dr Rebecca Tortello; and Gary Allen of the Radio Jamaica Group.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com

Spanish Ambassador Jésus Silva (left) converses with Radio Jamaica Group head, Gary Allen, at the dinner held for consulting architects from Spain.

Luis Sarda de Abreu (left), a specialist in exhibition spaces, shows Patrick Stanigar and Information, Culture and Sports Minister, Olivia Grange, his ideas for the New Seville Great House.