Rowleys host Independence concert

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife Sharon hosted a free concert in celebration of the 55th anniversary of this country's independence at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Sunday.

A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister said the concert was entitled, "An Independence Celebration: A Gift to the Nation." The concert was organised by the Community Development, Culture and the Arts Ministry in collaboration with the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). The event featured performances by the National Steel Symphony Orchestra; the National Philharmonic Orchestra; the UTT Jazz Ensemble; the Presentation College Mixed Choir and the Signal Hill Alumni Choir.

The statement said the large audience that filled the auditorium to capacity enjoyed selections from a range of musical genres such as classical, calypso, jazz, folk and soca. Calypsonian Roderick ‘Chucky’ Gordon, classical Indian dancer Susan Mohip, musician Rana Mohip, vocalist Helon Francis and saxophonist Anthony Woodruff also performed in collaboration with both orchestras.

Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles; Anglican Bishop Claude Berkley, several government ministers and members of the diplomatic corps attended the concert.

Specially invited guests of the Prime Minister also included children from the St. Jude's Home for Girls, the Princess Elizabeth Home and members of the Bishop Anstey High School Choir. The concert will be broadcast on Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) on Thursday (Independence Day).

Last week, Cabinet decided to wind up CNMG and re-launch TT Television (TTT). Rowley leaves the country on Friday for a routine medical check-up in the United States. He is expected to return early next week.