Annual Publication 2nd Issue 2012 www.diatonicpan.org Featuring Diatonic Siparia Pan on the Move The Lovable Lunatic "Crazy" La Divina Pastora Siparia Police Youth Club Spotlight on Sport - Ian Morris The In this issue Culture & Sports Conference 2 Board& Diatonic Music Literacy Program 4 Diatonic Tour to Indiana 11 the Siparia - Pan on the Move 2011-2012 12 Committees Diatonic Fund Raiser 18 From L-R sitting: Wayne Sylvester (Asst. Manager – Steelband), Sparkle Joseph (Events), Akeba “Mankind” Scipio (Captain – Steelband), Summer Balkaran (V. Captain – Steelband) Andrew Cardinal (Musical Director – Steelband) From L-R standing: Keith Byer (Director/Manager), Joel Joseph (Chairman – Education), Glen Glod (Chairman – Events) Dennis Noel (Education), Janelle Parris (Director/Secretary to all Committees), Ian Jackie (Events), Roy Alexander (Education), Vernon Dimsoy (Director) Missing: Trevor Ravello (Events), Kalicia Reefer (Education) Diatonic Pan Institute is established in Siparia Steel Orchestra; Special Events; Marketing as a registered Non Governmental Organisa- and Distribution; Education and Sports. tion (NGO) and Community Based Organisa- Members of the sub committees are being tion (CBO). It is intended that the programs of lled from personnel within Siparia and its Diatonic will directly aect all communities in environs. To date, while all other committees the ward of Siparia and serve as a model for are fully functional, sports will commence in the national community. Diatonic will 2012 and marketing will commence in due continue to impact positively on poverty course. alleviation and social disorders in the society thereby exposing the tremendous social and economic power of the Steelpan. The Board thanks its chairmen The operations of Diatonic are managed by a and members for their dedicated Board with the following sub committees: service to Siparia. Message from the Manager Mr. Keith Byer Greetings on the occasion of our 2012 Pan now’. Siparia nally has something to be every possible eort to frustrate our on the Move competition and our 2012 proud of and Diatonic is overjoyed to be the attempts at securing tenure to house our magazine production. I am proud to one responsible for giving that gift to the operations. report that The Diatonic Pan Institute, Siparia community. now in its second year of operation has Notwithstanding those who continue to achieved substantially in the areas of While everyone continues to revel in the view civil societies as ‘cake sale’ institutions, steelband, education and events. While tremendous economic and social benets of Diatonic will persevere to achieve its some of our major achievements will be the Diatonic Siparia Pan on the Move, sadly, mandate of making a social intervention highlighted in this magazine, it will be the authorities in Siparia are prepared to sit geared towards creating a sustainable impossible to report on all our eorts due back and sponge on Diatonic’s eorts while tolerant society that will benet all. to limited space constraints. attempting to retard our progress in key areas. I would like to express my appreciation I would like to thank the executive and I must report however, how pleasantly for the limited infrastructural contribution members of the Steelband, Events and surprised I was at the response and outcome made by The Siparia Envirofest Committee; Education committees for their unselsh and of our 2011 Pan on the Move attempt. The however, to date no entity in Siparia has unwavering eorts in propelling Diatonic to objectives were way surpass expectations oered any nancial support for this prestig- the envious position it now holds nationally. and Siparia Fete was alive again. Today you ious event. I am appalled by the manner in My gratitude to all nanciers, well wishers, can still hear the buzz on the streets, with all which organisations trusted with the supporters and community members for types of organization and persons receiving responsibility of developing and improving their belief and I promise you a bigger and spin o congratulations. The watchword the social, infrastructural and economical more festive Pan on the Move 2012 that will now in Siparia is ‘you cannot stop this thing framework of Siparia continues to make see exponential growth in the coming years. 1 Head Table Siparia L-R Teddy Belgrave, Solomon Ioannou of the European Union, Keith Byer, Marcia Riley and Nestor Sullivan CULTURE & SPORTS CONFERENCE The Diatonic Education Committee staged two identical conferences entitled “Culture and Sports – A Tool for Social Transformation” in conjunction with the European Union. The conferences were held at Lions Civic Centre in Siparia and the Community Development Conference Facilities in Port of Spain. Presentations were made from Marcia Riley – “Eects of Culture and Sports on Youth Development”; Nestor Sullivan – “Business of the Steelpan and its Impact on Crime”; Kenny Phillips – “Music as an Industry”; Richard Braithwaite – “Role of Sport in Social Development”; and Damion Richardson – Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism Tax Incentive Program. The day’s proceeding was moderated by Teddy Belgrave. All presentations were extremely informative, interactive and provocative, and fully explored their theme The NEWS newspaper of St. Vincent was represented by Mr. Duggie Joseph, who was sent to cover the event on their behalf. He was so impressed, that he immediately set about making plans for staging the conference in his country. Plans are also afoot to stage a similar conference in the sister isle of Tobago. Congratulations to the chairman of the Education Commit- tee Mr. Joel Joseph and his team for a job well done. Chairman Joel Joseph & committee members Dennis Noel & Roy Alexander relax after Conference POS 2 5 ALLEYNE’S Furniture & Appliances Ltd. Your Dealers In Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, The Festival of Daewoo, LG and Much More. LCD TV’s, Stereos, La Divina Pastora DVD Players, Microwaves, Part One Toasters and More. “The celebration of the Feast of La Divina Pastora is not only a Catholic religious festival; it is also deeply cultural, and dear to the hearts of Siparians.” Two distinct festivals have evolved in honour of buggy from neighbouring districts, and by the our patron, La Divina Pastora. The original coastal steamer from Port of Spain and other areas festival, called The Feast of La Divina Pastora or of Trinidad. These would disembark at the port of Siparia Fete, is held on the Feast-day observed by South Oropouche, and then travel over land to the Catholic Church, on the third Sunday after Siparia. With the advent of rail transport to Siparia Easter Sunday, when the gospel reading is that of in 1913, several chose the train, and the Trinidad the Good Shepherd. Government Railway had to schedule extra trains to Siparia for the event. Passengers often had to On this day, throngs of people journey to Siparia to disembark at the Coora Halt and walk the rest of the participate in the mid-morning Mass celebrated by way, due to the number of carriages parked at the the Archbishop of Port of Spain. The local parish Siparia railway station. makes preparations for adequate accomodation for the attendees; extra chairs are placed in the church After the church services were completed, the and tents are erected in the yard. Mass at 10.00a.m, feteing resumed. Horse racing, cycle racing and is followed by a procession with the famous statue other sporting events took place at the Irwin Park of La Divina Pastora through the streets. During the Savannah, while out in the streets steel bands procession, the Rosary is prayed and Marian hymns, entertained the crowds, and there was dancing in (hymns in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary) are the streets. In the rum-shops, both calypsonians sung. The deejays and bars voluntarily turn o their and paranderos serenaded patrons with voice and music as the procession passes, a custom very guitar; and children enjoyed the rides oered by much appreciated by the Church. At the end of the the fun-fairs set up for the occasion, while vendors procession, the faithful return to the church for oered their wares for sale, and the gambling Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. This ends booths enticed patrons to ‘not be lucky and the ocial religious observances, but many people coward’.....for a fee of course! remain in the church for hours, oering their private devotions. These observances have been Today, the crowds may not be as thick, and the the custom since before 1795, when the ocial factors of cultural celebration may have changed feast-day date was proclaimed by the reigning somewhat, the atmosphere of festivity remains, Pope, Pius VI. with dances, concerts, dance festivals and an old-time carnival parade, and all, Siparians and 2-3 Coora Road Siparia, The celebration of the Feast of La Divina Pastora is visitors alike, participate enthusiastically. 20 A George Street, Guapo Rd Fyzabad. not only a Catholic religious festival; it is also deeply cultural, and dear to the hearts of Siparians. In times Part 2 would be presented in the next edition. Phone: 868 649-1303 / 868 649-9695 past, Siparia Fete was one of the biggest events in 868 677-5104 Fax: 868 649-9695 this country. The crowds came to Siparia from all Theresa Noel, Amateur Heritage Historian, Website: www.alleynestt.com over, often days in advance to attend the pre-Fete Retired Teacher dances and other activities, travelling by horse and 3 Diatonic launches its Music Literacy Program PLNL President Roberto Mantellini hands over sponsorship cheque to Diatonic. Music Literacy Class Diatonic Education Committee launched its Music Literacy Program on February 01 2012, which was made available FREE to the community, thanks to the timely intervention of Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited. The program will see participants sitting the grade 1 Trinity School of Music examination in May 2012 and progress- ing to grade 8 by 2014.