RHONDOR DOWLAT
Amidst this month's recognition and celebration of the national instrument, the Steelpan, the T&T Music Stars Steel Orchestra was presented with its new home.
The handing over ceremony took place at the Chinapoo Community Centre in Morvant, on Tuesday 16 August 2022. The event was hosted by the East Port-of-Spain Development Company Limited, with the Housing Minister, Camille Robinson-Regis MP, presiding.
The Morvant-based steel orchestra was formed in 2005 in Malick, Barataria. It moved to Chinapoo, Morvant in 2007, into the Chinapoo Community Centre to facilitate the continued participation of a wide number of young people who reside in Chinapoo and surrounding communities.
The band was left without a home while the Centre being refurbished, upgraded and repurposed by the EPOS as requested by the community, and as such, without the safety and security of a space for their instruments.
In addition to a Feature Address by Minister Robinson-Regis, other speakers at the event were Manager Music Stars, Mugabe Pierre, as well as EPOS Managing Director Dr Deborah Thomas-Austin, and EPOS Director Dr Jeffrey Reyes.