‘Children should play Pan,’ urges Chief of Police Miller

CoP Keith Miller (centre) flanked by Asst. CoP Lenroy Brewster (right) and Supt. of Police Michael Charles at last Wednesday’s press conference. Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines W.I. - Commissioner of Police Keith Miller is calling on parents to encourage their children to get involved in playing the steel pan. The Commissioner made the call on Wednesday at a news conference held at the Central Police Station.

The top cop noted that a number of students who sat the June 3 Common Entrance Examination, and did very well, were products of the Pan Against Crime Initiative. He pointed to 11-year-old Alron Harry who placed first for boys and first overall in the examination.

The Commissioner underscored that Harry, a serious tenor and double tenor panist with the South East Steel Orchestra from Stubbs, is a product of the Pan Against Crime Initiative, as well as the band for which he plays.

....“I remember it was said, many years ago, that the steel pan is a bad boy thing. That is what I heard. I am really happy that the steel pan now is seen as an instrument that our young people can gravitate to and do not waste time,” Commissioner Miller said.
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Replies

reynold greg andalcio June 30, 2011 at 2:46am

this is what the trinidadian government in the early 1950's should have been doing , so all our talented artists would have been given their chance to express themselves as innovators of the steel pan. The government missed the boat, and now playing catch up. This is why a lot of talented musicians jumped the boat when they saw an opportunity abroad , to make music their passion in life.
- Terry Alfred > reynold greg andalcio June 30, 2011 at 3:15pm
  
  I certainly concur.Our loss indeed!
kenneth clarke June 28, 2011 at 7:08am

Words of wisdom from the commissioner, it is long over due and the way to go.
Terry Alfred June 27, 2011 at 5:00pm

The Steel pan should become part of the school's curriculum not only in The Grenadines but especially in Trinidad (where the Steel Pan was born)and throughout the Caribbean,Keeping kids off the street is a challenge in any society To be able to play the most innovative instrument in history may give the future generation a new sense of pride and appreciation to protect our history and open their minds to new possibilities in the field,
Peter Gray June 27, 2011 at 10:25am

Who could disgree? If pan can heal a community, it can also heal a nation.

Peter

This reply was deleted.