As the Pan Against Crime Programme marked it’s 9th anniversary in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Commissioner of Police Renold Hadaway said the programme has impacted the lives of many children and teenagers throughout the state and has revived people’s interest in the steel pan, once a diminishing art form.
Hadaway addressing a gathering who attended the Pan Against Crime anniversary concert at Victoria Village on Sunday, February 26th, 2017, said the steel pan, one of our cultural artforms, is used as a tool in the fight against crime and violence.
“This initiative, the Pan-Against Crime Programme, has impacted the lives of many children and teenagers throughout the state since its inception. They utilized their spare time learning to play the pan.
It is the consensus of the people that this skill that they have harnessed has been a contributing factor to outstanding performances in Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CAPE) and other Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Examinations,” said Commissioner Hadaway.
The Commissioner of Police said the Pan-Against Crime initiative, the brain child of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was launched in 2008, as the Government looked at ways to combat the 2007 upsurge in violence and crime.
This initiative’s overall strategy includes: connecting with the communities through culture, music, sports, law enforcement and education. Throughout the years several pan sides were launched.
These include but not limited to Winfresh South East Steel Orchestra of Stubbs; North Stars which started in Rose Hall but has now moved to Troumaca; New Dimensions in Lowmans Windward soon to be housed at the New Grounds Primary School: Mustique Charitable Trust Georgetown All Stars; Genesis of Largo Heights; Union Island; Canouan; Marriaqua Government School and Sandy Bay.
“This initiative and the many other initiatives undertaken by the RSVGPF (Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force) continue to impact positively on tomorrow’s generation”.
