Over 70 children participate in RSVG Police Band summer programme

They may have had only five weeks of musical training, but the children who took part in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Band summer programme played their instruments like seasoned professionals at the closing ceremony on Saturday, August 22, at the Old Montrose Police Station.{{more}}

Held under the theme: “Empowering our youth through music,” over 70 children received certificates and entertained their parents by playing the different instruments. Over the five-week period, the children received instruction in playing the Drum set, Piano, Saxophone, Flute, Steel Pan, Guitar, Descant Recorder, Side Drums and Trumpet.

Delivering brief remarks at the closing, Carlos Sampson, Assistant Superintendent and leader of the Police Band, told the large gathering that the children exceeded expectations, given that they only had five weeks to learn the basics on the instruments. Sampson said it is his hope that the training received by the children will extend throughout their lives. “Education is important and we have to get a lot of kids involved in the arts,” noted Sampson. The Assistant Superintendent lauded the parents for their support throughout the entire program.

An elated Commissioner of Police Keith Miller declared the program a great success after he was treated to some impressive playing by the students. He noted that the police have to continue to target the young people and try to steer them on the correct path. “Once we have these children doing positive things, we will have less delinquency,” noted the top cop. Miller also mentioned the ongoing efforts by the police to help curb the spate of crime and violence that has been affecting the Edinboro and Ottley Hall areas.

Miller said that there is increased police presence in both areas, and that meetings with the young people of those neighbourhoods will be held on a regular basis. “We just don’t want another young person to die in these communities,” Miller added.

Delivering the feature address, Minister of Culture Rene Baptiste urged the participants to become more active in the arts and learn about their culture. “We have to take this music and feed it into the soul of our nation,” Minister Baptiste asserted. Baptiste also lauded the commitment shown by the parents by getting their children involved in the arts at an early age. The culture minister stated her wish to see a dance group formed, which would consist of ten boys and ten girls.

Come next year, the children participating in the program will be more uniformed as efforts are being made to acquire T-shirts with the name of the summer program printed on them.

The much-anticipated Pan Against Crime concerts will resume in September following a meeting with the Pan Against Crime Committee and leaders of all Steel Orchestras scheduled for September 3, at the Police Conference Room.(KW)