THE interim committee for the establishment of a National Steel Band Association will tomorrow convene a meeting with members of the local steelband fraternity to discuss the way forward. The meeting will convene at 11:00 hrs at the National School of Music, Brickdam and College Road, Stabroek.Among the issues to be discussed will be:
* The constitution of the association
* Membership of the association
* Objectives of the association
* Role of the government in the development of the art form.
The main objectives prompting the establishment of the National Steel Band Association are to:
1. Provide a governing body that will preside over the affairs of steel- band in Guyana
2. Develop programmes to foster the expansion and continued development of the art form
3. Develop and implement educational programmes for the upward mobility of members of the fraternity
4. Establish partnerships with stakeholders within the private sector and establish funding streams to support programmes of the association.
Rudy Bishop, chairman of the Interim Committee, says that while there has been some amount of progress in the development of steelpan in the school system, the art form is practically non-existent in the community setting. The committee will seek to formerly establish the body to work with the government towards establishing a vibrant community-band programme. The group is willing to play a meaningful role in any project the government may have as it relates to steelband development for the 50th Independence celebration.