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Winning Buxton Steel Orchestra gets gov’t. boost
By: Kiana Wilburg
Decked out in sleek red shirts, black waistcoats and jeans with a white tie to crown it off, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra once again captivated its audience at a special ceremony yesterday to celebrate its success at the recent Mashramani Steel Pan Competition.
Yesterday at the Tipperary Hall, in Buxton, the members of the steel orchestra were given special donations by the government to further support their love for sweet pan music.
Minister of Human Services Ms. Jennifer Webster and Odinga Lumumba, Presidential Advisor on Empowerment join the band in the playing of one of their tunes.
Consisting of about 25 members, most of whom are from the Buxton Community, the GBTI Buxton Steel Orchestra serenaded many with melodious tunes which included their version of Dave Martine’s “Is we own” along with one folk song and an infectious chutney tune.
While the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Jennifer Webster was very impressed, she urged the students to extend the same love and dedication they exude for steel pan music to their academic aspirations as well.
“If you looked at my face while I was watching these talented children play, you can see that I was beaming with awe. I am so impressed. I would suggest to the members here today that we see some way that these children can play every Saturday or Sunday for the members of the village. In fact, I will have to speak with Mr. Odinga Lumumba, Presidential Advisor on Community development and Empowerment about ways in which we can get these students to play in Georgetown and other parts of the country as well.”
Webster added, “I recalled the days when my father used to take me to Georgetown to hear the Steel Pan group of the Guyana Police Force at the Bandstand by the Sea walls. I thoroughly enjoyed those days and I will encourage moves to have these talented children get the deserved recognition. In fact, I can assure that whenever my Ministry has a function, these children will be there to play for us.”
“However, I am big on academics. From the way you played here today, I can most certainly understand why you defeated the other schools such as Queen’s College and St. Joseph‘s High School. Your love for steel pan is obvious. It is in that light that I also want to encourage you to let that same love and determination carry over to your academics. You have the potential and you can do it. I want the children of the Buxton community to be taking away not just one but a few of the scholarships given away by my Ministry. I believe that you can do it.”
The inspirational message by Minister Webster was then followed by presentations of four steel pans and sticks which will be added to the Buxton Steel Orchestra.
A stirring speech was then delivered by Alana Hasan, a 15-year-old student of St. Rose’s High School who was recruited to play for the band.
Hasan expressed great thanks for the undying support of the government for the art form. She also thanked her trainers and musical composers who pushed her and her teammates harder each day.
Motivated by Webster’s speech, the children who were asked to close the ceremony with two more tunes, seemed to play their tunes, this time with more vigour and happiness. One student expressed her gratitude for the speech given by Minister Webster.
“I feel very grateful for the fact that Mr. Lumumba and Minister Webster could come to hear us play. I was very surprised when she said she believed in us and I will push harder to keep my grades up. If my minister can see what I can do then she probably knows what she is saying. I just feel happy that someone I look up to believes in me,” an overjoyed 15-year-old member explained.
Lumumba and Webster, who were drawn into the happiness and the energy of the children as they danced to their tunes, couldn’t help but join in for the final song.
Although it was anyone’s guess if the government officials were playing in time, it was quite obvious that they had an extraordinary time playing with the students before they left.
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