Pan families get 100 hampers

THE covid19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the economy, businesses, education and cultural festivities including Carnival and Panorama. It has also brought people together and demonstrated the importance of strength in unity and the resilience of humanity.

In its continuing response to provide assistance to band members, the Northern Region of Pan Trinbago teamed up with the TT Defence Force for the most successful food drive and food distribution in the region’s history, the region said in a media release. The Defence Force responded to a request for assistance by Northern Region chairman Desiree Myers.

With input from the Chief of Defence Staff Air Commodore Daryl Daniel, and Chief Staff Officer Col Dexter Francis hundreds of food items were donated and the Northern Region gave out over 100 hampers to members and pioneers of the pan fraternity.

The Northern Region also received hampers donated by Massy Stores and other donors locally and abroad, ensuring that every band received at least one hamper.

Announcing the food drive as an inaugural event that would be conducted by the Northern Region annually, Myers said covid19 has awakened the region to focus more on people, and acknowledged "that in everything we do, we must put our people first," the release stated.

That was the region's third distribution of food hampers for 2020. Hampers were previously donated to steelband families by its executive members, and from large sponsored bands in the Northern Region.

The region also recently donated six tablets to students who are young pannists from bands in the region, to assist them with their remote learning.

Myers said, “We at the Northern Region recognise and understand that there are many band members who are experiencing severe hardship at this time and wanted to do something to help. The barriers placed on these innocent, young kids, through no fault of their own, must be broken down. If not, these kids and their futures would be in a grave predicament of being left behind and forced into a state of educational injustice. We can’t and won’t let that happen.”

The hampers distribution took place at the region's Belmont office in December with participation of Defence Force members Lt Jean Paul Bartholomew, Lt Sherron Manswell, Sgt Dion Joseph and Cpl Dale Denalli (Defence Force Steel Orchestra), Sgt Perez, Privates Ramsoondar, Niles and Robinson (Defence Force Headquarters PTI department) and CPL Adana Humes (media).

Others representing the Northern region inlcuded vice chairman Earl Morris, secretary Robert Hernandez, treasurer Kenneth Kerr, trustees Martin Cain and John Douglas, liaison officer Ricardo Mapp and office assistant Sally Holder.