Divine Echoes band no more30 facing breadline as PM's office seizes instrumentsBy Sue-Ann Wayow
sue-ann.wayow@trinidadexpress.com Story Created: Aug 21, 2012 at 11:00 PM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 21, 2012 at 11:00 PM ECT
AS of today, the Divine Echoes Band will no longer be performing as a band.
The musicians and singers will have to look for jobs elsewhere, and all outreach programmes carried out by the band will be stopped.
The musical instruments used by the band since its formation in 2007 were removed yesterday from the band's possession, on the instructions from the Office of the Prime Minister.
The contract agreement signed in 2007 between band members and the People's National Movement (PNM) government came to an end yesterday without any renewal, or plans for renewal.
The State had paid the salaries of members.
The band's manager, Tamba Gwindi, said yesterday that five men showed up at the bandroom on Caroni Savannah Road, Charlieville, and took away the instruments and the cargo truck used to transport the equipment to various gigs.
The bandroom will not be available to members anymore.
The band comprises 30 people, including four trumpeters, five saxophonists, five vocalists, two guitarists, two drummers and two percussionists. Members are between the ages of 18 and 40.
The band was formed under the previous administration in 2007 and championed by then prime minister Patrick Manning.
Its contract was renewed in 2009 for a period of three years.
The band was developed "with the intent of tapping into the power of the music industry, in an effort to transform the lives of the nation's youth through artistic endeavours," Gwindi said.
Gwindi said a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister dated July 28 stated the contract would not be renewed.
He said since the People's Partnership came into government, the band's participation at official functions dwindled. The band was invited to perform at only one Government-hosted function, he said.
The band has performed at various award ceremonies, jazz concerts and community outreach events, and also the Summit of the Americas and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2009.
Gwindi said members were hoping the musical instruments would be sold to them, so they could continue playing as a band.
"We just want that the agreement that was verbally made with us with the Office of the Prime Minister to be honoured, which was to sell the members the equipment.
"Our intention is to continue as a band, which was always the original intent. This band is made up of young, professional musicians who live by doing what they are doing, so these musicians are now on the breadline from tomorrow.
"We got information that we have to wait on a Cabinet decision, which we were not told before. After that, we were told that our request was not successful and we will not be sold the instruments, and we were informed that today, someone from the Office of the Prime Minister would come and take the equipment out," he said.
Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Rodger Samuel said yesterday he was unaware of any issue with the band.
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