(EMU) – St. Kitts, December 2, 2016: The CEMSS GEMS ENSEMBLE was launched at an official handing over of a Steel Pan Orchestra by the Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS) to the Charles E Mills Secondary School on Wednesday November 30.
Principal, Mr. Boris Connor, said the SPBS has been the, “Single most prolific contributor to the school other than the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.” The principal added, “We are grateful to the organization for the kind of support that it has given over the past 16 years. We must pause to say thank you and acknowledge the contribution.”
The principal shared with students about the SPBS, “It is an organization of persons from Sandy Point who live particularly in the United States who have pledged themselves to support the efforts, activities and the young people of this school and the community as a whole. By their support they have made it possible for a number of you to have better opportunities to pursue your educational goals.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and past president of the SPBS, Mr. William V. Hodge spoke to students about the sacrifices of the persons who comprise the Sandy Point Benevolent Society to be able to provide the scholarships; and other donations that they have maintained and added to over the years.
The permanent secretary explained that the very sound system through which his message was going out was donated by the SPBS to the tune of E.C. $50,000.
In his pep talk to students the permanent secretary advised, “These persons are not millionaires, but they have decided to give back so that others can move forward. The members of the SPBS were all poor people from Sandy Point but we got up there (USA) and realized we could do something to help and we did.”
Mr. Hodge expounded on the various means by which funds are raised including raffles, donations, Caribbean breakfasts and banquets. He took the opportunity to invite teachers, students and the community to get involved in the sale of tickets for the upcoming banquet at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. While the activity is usually held in the United States, the SPBS thought it would be a good idea to allow persons from St. Kitts to donate to the school via this event. Hodge informed of a raffle at a cost of $13 in which everyone was being invited to participate.
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“The organization will continue to work for you. We want to thank you for the honour that was bestowed on the organization during your recent graduation. It tells us that you appreciate what we are doing” stated the permanent secretary who also thanked teachers who worked feverishly to promote the events that will be held in St. Kitts for the first time this year.
Mr. Hodge asked students to make use of the opportunity to learn to play the steel pan well. “It is a skill that we hope that all of you will develop and master before exiting the Charles E Mills Secondary School,” he stated as he handed them over to Minister of Education, Hon Shawn Richards.
Minister Richards was pleased to accept the pans which will comprise the CEMSS Gems Ensemble and encouraged students to be aware of the benefits of playing music. “It was only a few weeks ago that we had the 25 Most Remarkable Teens Ceremony (which highlights outstanding/achieving teens in the Federation annually). Their profiles revealed that most of them were involved in various forms of music. Quite a number of them credited music with their own self development,” Minister Richards explained.
The minister further stated, “Take the music classes seriously. Treat the pans with care so that others can benefit. We recently purchased pans at the Ministry of Culture to the tune of E.C. $100,000. These pans are valued at E.C $81,000. They are indeed a very large investment but the investors recognize the ability of music to transform lives.”
The minister expressed that this is by far the largest investment by a single entity to the school to date.
Mr. Calvin Farrier, a past cabinet secretary and one of the first teachers of the school, who was commended as the school’s biggest cheerleader, was present at the ceremony.
The present president of the SPBS is Dr. Stewart Williams.
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