Pans for South East Development Organisation

Members of the South Central Windward Development Organisation (SCWDO) are now gearing up to get the community steel band off the ground.{{more}}

On July 16, the organisation collected the musical instruments after they were tested and commissioned by the Sea Operations Starlift Steel Orchestra.

The pans were handed over at a small ceremony held at the pan yard of Starlift Steel Orchestra, located at Old Montrose.

The community band is a project funded by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Social Investment Fund (SVGSIF) to the tune of EC$80,000.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SVGSIF, Bentley Browne, said that SIF was committed to the development of steel bands in this country. He said the South Central Windward Development Organisation was the sixth band to be set up by SIF.

Senator Saboto Ceasar, an executive member of the South Central Development Organisation, thanked SIF for its contribution and noted that the occasion was one that reflected the hard work and determined efforts of residents of the South Central Windward Constituency.

The pans were sourced by Sea Operations Starlift Steel Orchestra. Garth Williams of Starlift, in his brief remarks, said his organisation was pleased to be associated with the project.

He noted that Starlift has been around for 42 years and has been able to replenish its members over the years with youths from the community.

Placing great emphasis on Starlift being a community band, Williams said crime was almost “non existent” in the Old Montrose community; this, he claimed, was due to the existence of the pan yard in the community.

“I want to thank SIF for seeing it fit to invest in the youths of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he affirmed.

SIF will soon establish community bands in Georgetown and North Leeward.

So far bands have been established in Largo Height, Union Island, Canouan and Questelles and Stubbs.