PARTICIPANTS of the fourth annual Republic Bank Right Start Pan Minor Music Literacy programme who hail from the Georgetown District were on Thursday presented with certificates of participation at a simple closing ceremony held in the Grand Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

The event was held from July 8 to 25, and saw approximately 100 students of Levels One, Two and Three of the programme receiving their certificates and entertaining the audience.
Level One of the programme was for first-time participants; Level Two catered for participants who had been playing for between six months and one year; and Level Three was for participants who had been playing for over two years and were geared towards improving their skills and refining their playing techniques.
The focus of the programme included steel pan history, music theory, techniques of playing, and steel band arrangement, and the workshops were held in Regions Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) and were facilitated by six instructors.
Delivering the feature address at the closing ceremony, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr. Alfred King, commended the tremendous efforts of the Republic Bank team, which had seen it necessary to assist in promoting and helping preserve the steel pan art form.
He noted that the Bank knows the value of preserving such an art form and recognises the importance of making a difference by enhancing the life skills of young people who sign on to the programme. He disclosed that the relationship between Republic Bank and the Ministry has gone well beyond what had been anticipated in a short-term engagement, and he opined that there is a bright future for pan music in Guyana.
King said it is increasingly being recognised that more than academics is needed in order to lead productive and quality lives, and young people need to be provided with opportunities to have a balanced lifestyle.
He encouraged the participants to take the experience they gained during the programme with them, not only in terms of the skills relating to steel pan, but also in terms of the concept of teamwork and valuing the efforts of others.
Like Republic Bank, King said, the Ministry always wants to provide opportunities for young people to make a difference, and wants to impact their lives in a positive way.
In this regard, he indicated that the Ministry would be running close to 115 camps throughout the length and breadth of Guyana during this summer holiday.
Manager of Republic Bank’s Water Street branch, Mrs. Celine Davis, also made remarks on the occasion, noting that during the past five years, the Bank has seen a welcome rebirth of the steel pan fraternity, and is delighted to assist in sustaining that rebirth through the nurturing of Guyanese youths.
Ms Davis pointed out that the programme is part of the Bank’s community initiative, the “Power to make a difference”, which today has evolved and caters for both the beginner and more experienced steel pan players.
According to her, participants and their instructors commenced this year’s programme in early July with the objective of improving and developing playing skills both through music theory and practicals, while affording an appreciation of the history of the art form.
Mrs. Davis said the Bank was very heartened by this year’s response to the programme, which saw a total of 150 children benefiting.
“At Republic Bank, it is our belief that we all have a role to play in positively shaping the minds of our youth, helping them to realise their potential, sharpen skills, and dream of real possibilities beyond their present circumstances and popular culture,” she said as she congratulated all of the participants on completing the programme, and thanked their parents and guardians for ensuring their attendance.
She also thanked the teachers who delivered the programme in the various Regions, and the Culture Ministry for coordinating its delivery; even as she encouraged the pan minors to ensure the lessons learnt are not wasted, and to pursue possibilities for continued growth and learning, if they have discovered a passion for steel pan or music literacy through this exposure.
This music literacy initiative was a collaboration between Republic Bank Guyana Limited and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and was first introduced to Guyana in 2010.
The participants in other parts of the country received their certificates at their respective closing sessions.