Steve Weeks came to his post in T&T after serving in embassies in Africa and the Middle East. With a background in the arts and cultural diplomacy, Weeks quickly became entranced with the rich culture of T&T. His mission was to strengthen existing bonds between the United States and T&T.
“Trinidad is so dynamic,” notes Weeks. “Americans can learn a lot from their ingenuity and desire for creative expression.”
Weeks’ job focus was aimed particularly at the diversification of the economy, development of the creative sector, equity in education (especially for young women), and security issues. While not immediately obvious, supporting culture, for Weeks, has been part of a holistic and comprehensive approach to the security agenda for the US Embassy’s diplomatic relations.
For example, partnering with programmes offering clear opportunities for at-risk youth empowers them to succeed, which thereby makes both countries more secure. With the funding of arts initiatives very limited, Weeks approached his role as developing ongoing partnerships with programmes that fit within the State Department’s mission, promote cross-cultural understanding, and develop ongoing relationships.
In particular, his focus was on programmes that acted as “social outreach tools, helping kids learn life skills, teamwork, building resilience, and self-esteem.”
To this end, Weeks has been more directly involved with programmes that foster Trinidad’s national instrument, the steelpan, than any other diplomat in the US Embassy in recent memory.
Weeks quickly became a regular presence at concerts and performances throughout Trinidad, including at UTT, NAPA, panyards, theatre, Kaiso Café, spoken word events, film screenings, Hosay, and other cultural events. Weeks sought to understand and enjoy T&T at every level. During Carnival, he participated in everything, including going to the panyards, getting up early for Canboulay, joining Etienne Charles on the road, walking the drag and attending Panorama Finals.
Weeks has been a strong supporter of pan—he travelled across the country to hear steelbands, big and small, in their panyards, from Skiffle to Supernovas. He got involved in providing support for the three US steelbands that came for Pan Trinbago’s groundbreaking International Conference of Pan (ICP): the Pan Coalition from Maine, Mosaic Steel Orchestra in Virginia and Brooklyn Steel Orchestra.
Dr Anthony Hailey from Mosaic Steel Orchestra has returned on a couple occasions, with embassy support, to work with Cordettes Steel Orchestra in Sangre Grande to help strengthen that band’s outreach in the community and to see ways that help his work in the United States.
“I see the positive propensity of pan on a daily basis working with disadvantaged youth in Virginia,” notes Hailey.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2017-07-03/steve-weeks-bids-tt-goodbye
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