Taiwanese donate US$100,000 worth of musical instruments to police band

Thursday, November 12, 2009 – The look and sound of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band are now second to none, as the band now owns brand new musical instruments valued at $US100,000.

The instruments, funded by the government of Taiwan, were officially handed over to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band on Wednesday afternoon.

Taiwanese Ambassador to Saint Lucia, His Excellency Tom Chou, says the instrument donation to the Police Band, is part of his government's approach to supporting economic and social development in Saint Lucia.

“Saint Lucia's Police Band is the number one band in the Caribbean and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you on receiving these new instruments. I am glad that the Embassy is part of your effort to pursue excellence.”

The donation from the Taiwanese government came in response to a request from Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King during his tenure as Home Affairs and National Security Minister in December last year.

Mr. King says the new equipment will ensure that the police band continues to warm the hearts of many people with quality music, while remaining number one in the Caribbean.

The new instruments were donated ten days before Saint Cecilia`s Day, which is the feast of musicians, observed annually on the 22nd of November.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the Ambassador and his team for responding to us in a time of need when we felt it was necessary to assist a group of citizens who continue to make their contribution to national development through the provision of music to the people of Saint Lucia,” the prime minister said.

The band's director of music, Mr. Gregory Piper, thanked the Taiwanese government for what he described as a worthwhile investment in the police band, and assured the officials that the instruments will be put to good use.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Band was formed in June of 1947, by bandmaster Nathaniel Joseph Griffith. However, it became an establishment of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force in 1965, some eighteen years after its inception.

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