WESTERN BUREAU:

It is official, the Success Primary School in Lilliput, St. James, has been renamed John Rollins Success Primary School.

Senator Noel Monteith, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, announced last Friday that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller had approved the renaming of the institution, based on the recom-mendation of Education Minister, Maxine Henry Wilson.

He said the decision to rename the school was based on the level of support the school had received from the Rollins family and the Ritz-Carlton hotel since its inception in 2004.

?I know that part of that continuing support will constitute the work plans to make this institution a centre of excellence and a model school in the region,? Senator Monteith stated.

He was addressing students, teachers and parents at the official opening and dedication of the school last Friday.

?The John Rollins Success Primary School is guided by the vision and leadership of the principal and a dedicated team. Students, parents and the wider community must stake their claim on the institution. Take care of it and ensure that the school achieves its goals,? he urged the gathering.

Government?s decision to rename the institution has received unanimous backing from other members of the community.

Excited

Principal, Yvonne Miller-Wisdom, said she was very excited and was looking forward to greater things happening for the institution.

?The pace has now been set. Before, there was some uncertainty as to our true identity. I know we are going to benefit from that,? she said.

She added that the Rollins family and the Ritz-Carlton hotel had contributed tremendously to the school?s development.

Member of Parliament for the area, Ed Bartlett, said he had made the initial recommendation for the name change because he thought that the school should become integrated in the overall development strategy of the area.

Pointing out that education
was central to the sustainable development of any area, he said the school needed to have the requisite instructional materials, plants, equipment and facilities for the teachers.

?We think, therefore, that the commercial development of the area should embrace the school

The Rollinses have been out-standing in their development strategy for the area so I think it is a deserving honour for the school to be renamed and to give the family the chance to partici-pate in a deep and abiding way in the human resource of the area,? Bartlett commented.

Chairman of the school board, Jo Hylton, said: ?When the discussion came about, Mrs. Michele Rollins gave her unreserved approval and plans to give further support. We thought it was very appropriate to have the school renamed.?