If the 60 students at the opening of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Band Summer Programme needed any inspiration for attending, a presentation by Sergeant 50 Smart, and WPC 1077 Rodney may have all they needed.
Smart on keyboards accompanied Rodney in a rendition of ‘If We Hold on Together’ made popular by Diana Ross.
When Commissioner of Police Colin John addressed the gathering at the Old Montrose Police Station, he must have been satisfied that his efforts to revive the programme were worth it.
He thanked the parents for putting their trust in the Police Band by sending their children to the Summer programme. He is sure that it will be successful.
He urged the students to be attentive to their instructors and that their first duty was to listen. John wants students to respect not only their parents, but their peers.
He sees the programme as training ground for potential police officers. John highlighted the benefits of being a Police Officer with rewards after ten years.
Police Constable 246 Bristol built on the musical platform set by Smart and Rodney with his version on Pan of the Alicia Keys’ number ‘If I aint got you.’
Retired band master Insp. Bernard Haynes traced the history of the Police Band, from its commissioning in 1951 under the leadership of Weston Lewis, a civilian.
As far as Haynes was concerned, those who managed to be enlisted to the Summer programme can consider themselves lucky.
Haynes will provide a trophy and a cash prize the student who answers the most questions on the Police Band during the programme.
Himself a band Master from 2010 to 2016, Haynes named all the Band Masters, including Station Sergeant St. Hillarie, Caesar, Harry, Brian James, Dennis Williams, ASP Carlos Sampson and Inspector Daniel Hall, who succeeded him and served till his death in 2020. Inspector Vaughn Miller is the present band master. Stories (WKA)