Minister Harmon donates $50,000 to alma mater’s Steel Pan Orchestra

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Wednesday made a donation of $50,000 to the West Demerara Secondary School’s Steel Pan Orchestra, which placed first in the Small Band category of the recently concluded Republic Bank Annual Panorama Competition, which coincides with the celebration of Guyana’s Republic

Anniversary.
Minister Harmon, who attended the institution as a secondary school student, said he was elated when he learnt of the school’s success at the competition. Handing over the cheque to the Headmaster of the school, Harry Narine, Minister Harmon said he is forever proud of the institution and decided to make the monetary contribution in an effort to improve the orchestra and enhance its competitive skills. Minister Harmon said, “When I heard that the band had actually won, I was very, very proud to know that this is a band that came from the school that I went to and so I thought that I would do something special for you and I trust that you will grow from strength to strength and that you can use this money to strength your skills and maybe move to the bigger category next time around.”
During the visit, Minister Harmon was greeted by renditions of Dave Martin’s `Not A Blade of Grass’ along with other songs, which the school’s orchestra had performed during the competition. The Minister also took the time to interact with the students and teachers of the school, who were gathered in the schools compound and seemed elated by the Minister’s visit and donation to the school.