By Admin. Updated 7:24 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Electricity Services Ltd – VINLEC handed over a cheque of XCD $40,000 to the Youlou Pan Movement towards Junior Panorama 2024.
The event took place this evening (June 18) at VINLEC’s Headquarters at Paul’s Avenue.
The 2024 VINLEC Junior Panorama will be held on Sunday, June 30 at Victoria Park with competitive performances from School and Community Steel Orchestras from throughout the country.
The event will be held under the theme: “The Transforming Power of Pan”.
Speaking at today’s ceremony, VINLEC’s CEO – Vaughn Lewis spoke about the correlation between music and academics and told young pianists to be proud of what they are doing and to strive for excellence.
He reiterated VINLEC’s commitment to supporting the arts, having sponsored the Junior Panorama Competition for over two decades.
Meanwhile, the President of the Youlou Pan Movement Mr. Rodney Small, during his remarks welcomed VINLEC’s investment noting that some 575 pan players take part in Junior Panorama and that VINLEC’s “contribution will have a significant impact and will help us achieve our goals”.
Ricardo Adams – CDC Chair said pan is an expensive exercise and support is welcomed from corporate partners like VINLEC.
Minister responsible for Culture – Carlos James applauded VINLEC for the support while appealing to other Corporate entities to invest more in the arts. He also spoke about plans to expand pan throughout the country with the establishment of new orchestras in communities that currently do not have steel orchestras such as those in the Southern Grenadines and in North Leeward.
He said the expansion of pan is part of efforts to inculcate discipline within our young people and to help strengthen our cultural identity.
The final speaker was Maxine Browne the Cultural Officer in the Ministry of Culture who praised VINLEC’s investment and said that the investment will make a difference by fostering youth involvement and youth engagement as pan provides an opportunity to be engaged; it helps to develop a person physically, socially, and mentally, she said.
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