‘Pan Against Crime’ marks eighth anniversary

The Pan Against Crime programme is celebrating its eighth anniversary, having been officially launched on February 20, 2008.

To mark the occasion, the PAC Committee has scheduled a number of community concerts to be held around St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

The first of these concerts will be held in Barrouallie, this Sunday, March 13, at the area known as the “Square.” The event begins at 4:30 p.m., with Praise and Worship by members of the Kingdom Life Ministries of Barrouallie and Exhortation by Pastor Alvin Walker. Also scheduled to perform are: SVG Port Authority Genesis and Symphonix Steel Orchestras; Barrouallie and Layou Police Youth Clubs; the Barrouallie Gov’t and Barrouallie Anglican Schools; the Central Leeward Secondary School; Bethel High School Band;Ronnie Richardson; and the Police Band.

Commissioner of Police Michael Charles will deliver an address. The featured speaker will be Deputy Prime Minister and parliamentary representative for the area Sir Louis Straker.

The Annual Easter Gospel Concert will follow on Easter Sunday, March 27, at 4:30 p.m. at the Calliaqua Playing Field, featuring the Elite and Potential Steel Orchestras; youths from several Police Youth Clubs and schools in the area; Praise and Worship and an Exhortation from churches; Ronnie Richardson; Fidel Taylor; and the Police Band. Parliamentary Representative for the area Camillo Gonsalves will deliver remarks.

Others concerts are scheduled for Victoria Village and Union Island.

The brain child of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the Pan Against Crime programme engages youths in a positive way, using the art of playing the pan, combined with lectures/discussions, to assist them in staying away from violence, crime and delinquent behaviours.

Over 3,500 of the nation’s youths have participated in the programme since its existence, with several managers and trainers of the bands reporting vast improvement in academic performances, discipline and general attitude among these youths.

Since 2008, 12 steel bands have so far been established by the PAC programme, this with the assistance of the Social Investment Fund (SIF), now defunct, and Petro Caribe. Two secondary schools have also received donations of pans from the PAC programme.