Dear Editor,
For the past three years I have noticed that the Trelawny Parish Council has been ‘playing’ its youth.
I refer now specifically to the parish’s only marching band and the Independence ceremony on Saturday, August 6, 2016.
I have heard them play with drums and a few wind instruments and they were applauded by everyone; the former Member of Parliament, the mayor, the custos, a judge, police, business owners, and so on. They have also performed for the opening of Circuit Court, funerals, cricket matches, and social events and they are very good.
Now I may not have funds to help them, but to utilise another band from another parish is very disrespectful. How can this be right? We should be encouraging the youth in the parish.
I know they have reached out to the business community for help to uplift the band without much success. This same community utilises the band and often only pays them with a meal. I’m not saying that after the event they should not be given something to eat, as they will be hungry and tired, of course, but where is the pay for their hard work? How are they to transport themselves, get to rehearsals or even maintain their instruments? We all want our children involved in something so as not to have them become gang leaders/members, coke heads, thieves or pimps, and they have put out their every effort to be in something productive for the community and parish. By their actions, what the leaders and business people of the parish are saying to them is you are our last resort.
The band has over 30 members, ages 10-19 years, and their dream, when asked, is that they want to shine just as the name of the band, Trelawny All Stars Marching Band.
Come on people, do something to uplift the youth of today so they can be the future military band or represent Trelawny and Jamaica to the world as the great Usain Bolt is doing now. A lot of greatness can come from just a little start with just a push!
Think on these things.
Chevoyann V Hall
chevoy.hall234@gmail.com
For the past three years I have noticed that the Trelawny Parish Council has been ‘playing’ its youth.
I refer now specifically to the parish’s only marching band and the Independence ceremony on Saturday, August 6, 2016.
I have heard them play with drums and a few wind instruments and they were applauded by everyone; the former Member of Parliament, the mayor, the custos, a judge, police, business owners, and so on. They have also performed for the opening of Circuit Court, funerals, cricket matches, and social events and they are very good.
Now I may not have funds to help them, but to utilise another band from another parish is very disrespectful. How can this be right? We should be encouraging the youth in the parish.
I know they have reached out to the business community for help to uplift the band without much success. This same community utilises the band and often only pays them with a meal. I’m not saying that after the event they should not be given something to eat, as they will be hungry and tired, of course, but where is the pay for their hard work? How are they to transport themselves, get to rehearsals or even maintain their instruments? We all want our children involved in something so as not to have them become gang leaders/members, coke heads, thieves or pimps, and they have put out their every effort to be in something productive for the community and parish. By their actions, what the leaders and business people of the parish are saying to them is you are our last resort.
The band has over 30 members, ages 10-19 years, and their dream, when asked, is that they want to shine just as the name of the band, Trelawny All Stars Marching Band.
Come on people, do something to uplift the youth of today so they can be the future military band or represent Trelawny and Jamaica to the world as the great Usain Bolt is doing now. A lot of greatness can come from just a little start with just a push!
Think on these things.
Chevoyann V Hall
chevoy.hall234@gmail.com