So sorry, Madame Ambassador
Dear Editor,
It has come to my attention that Her Excellency Marianne Ziss, ambassador of France to Jamaica, toured the Caribbean Sculpture Park on a recent visit to the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) on February 8, 2026.
Since its launch on December 10, 1999 the Caribbean Sculpture Park has had numerous visitors from all walks of life as it is a place of aesthetic beauty not only capturing the artistic expressions of Caribbean and other artists by its range of sculptors but by transforming the physical space from a literal ‘dust bowl’ to an environmentally friendly green space as envisioned by the university’s first director for the Centre for the Arts Pat Ramsay; David Harrison, former dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment; and the late President Emeritus Dr Rae Davis.
All over the world the French are known as vanguards for heritage preservation as France is the seat of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). As a child I recall seeing a movie involving the German invasion of France. The image that is implanted in my head is the sight of teary-eyed French officials watching helplessly as Adolf Hitler’s forces invaded their country. The French took the decision to surrender without resistance to preserve their magnificent built heritage inter alia.
At the Hope Farm School/Jamaica School of Agriculture (1910-1957) a predecessor institution to UTech, Jamaica (which was relocated from Hope Road to Twickenham Park in Spanish Town) it was reported that, from very early, students and staff alike began enlisting to serve in the war.
“In 1916-1917 the entire batch of third-year students enlisted for the war,” captured Veront Satchell in Hope Transformed: A Historical Sketch of the Hope Landscape, St Andrew, Jamaica, 1660 – 1960. Over the years I have unsuccessfully tried to obtain the names of these staff and students. I am sure if the ambassador were aware of this, even a moment’s silence would have been observed in their honour. In this regard, I sincerely apologise to Her Excellency Marianne Ziss that she was not communicated about this matter.
Joan Francis
Museum and heritage preservation officer/
Lecturer, archival appraisal and access
University of Technology, Jamaica
ajfrancis08@gmail.com
