The management of Ansa McAl officially adopted and handed over $1 million to the “Parkside Steel Orchestra” as the company signed a three-year partnership with the popular steel band.

Parkside is one of Guyana’s most talented bands and has won the National Steel Pan Competition 10 times. The band is over two decades old and will now be known as the Ansa McAl Parkside Steel Orchestra.

Managing Director of Ansa McAl (Guyana) Troy Cadogan, said the company believes it is the opportune time to showcase its continued support for the arts and culture in Guyana with the return of the Panorama competition for the Mashramani celebrations.

The Chairperson of the Parkside Steel Orchestra, Kelisha Edwards said the band is pleased with the support and partnership that have been extended from the Ansa McAl company.

According to the corporate communication manager of Ansa McAl, Alleya Hamilton, “we are branding the band and officially calling them our own, so after today, it will be called Ansa McAl Parkside Steel Orchestra. We will be supporting them throughout the year and the donation of one million dollars is given to them, so that they will be able to offset all expenses such as purchasing new pans, uniforms, etc.”

Further, Hamilton said the company’s main objectives are to highlight, support and spotlight talented individuals in the orchestra. It is their vision to showcase this locally and internationally throughout the year, not only during the Mashramani festivities.

She also noted that it is an initiative that stems from the company’s robust corporate social responsibility programme, which focuses on youth development and creating more opportunities for them.

“All the bands in Guyana are special and unique in their own way, but this band specifically reached out to us and sought our support and sponsorship, and we like what they brought to the table as well.”

While Hamilton believes that Guyana’s music industry is very diverse, she doesn’t think that many musicians get the publicity they deserve and need. That is why, according to her, Ansa McAl is involved in giving the youths the much-needed push they require.

One such initiative that Ansa McAl sponsored last year was the Band-on-the-Beach Carnival.

“We were really impressed with the number of bands that were there, showing their talents and entertaining the Guyanese people. We enjoyed what we saw there and we have now decided to give Parkside a chance,” said the communications manager.

Finally, Ms. Hamilton thanked the Government of Guyana for what is being done for young people and their talent, saying, “As a young person myself, I love the initiative by the government. I know that Guyanese are talented, but that talent has not been widely recognized.”

She continued: “So most young people will focus on getting a nine-to-five job and just living on that, but now I am happy that the government is taking into consideration the talents that are out there and seeing the need for investment in and cultivation of them. As part of the private sector, we are absolutely happy that President Ali has urged us to come on board and invest in the lives of young people.”

Ansa McAl is blazing the trail and hopes that other corporate institutions will join them in developing the lives of young people’s talents and providing a platform for them to benefit from their success.