Members of the steelpan fraternity were celebrated in a heartfelt evening of praise and worship at Pan Trinbago’s headquarters in Port of Spain on Sunday – the eve of the third annual World Steelpan Day.
Pan Trinbago President Beverley Ramsey-Moore said Sunday’s event, “Pan on a High Note of Praise,” was originally planned in 2019 but the organisation faced delays due to unforeseen circumstances. She emphasised that the realisation of this year’s worship was a testament to divine guidance.
“Many nights we reached out in prayers because our focus was on greatness, our focus was on rebuilding an organisation, but more so grounded and rooted in Christ our Saviour.”
While reflecting on the journey of perseverance and faith which led to the event’s success, Mrs. Ramsey-Moore said, “It is only through God that we have been able to accomplish so much, including this year’s celebration.”
“We know it will not be easy, but we trust and we believe in God, that again He is going to send our destiny helpers and He is going to send our divine connectors, because we know that what we are doing is service to mankind, and service to mankind is service to God.”
Brother Anthony Hughes of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church delivered a message highlighting the character of those within the steelpan fraternity. He urged young people to remember and honour the struggles and sacrifices of their ancestors.
“The acts by which we live and the attitudes by which we act must be clear and be unquestioned, especially as an organisation involved in the development of young people.”
World Steelpan Day, observed annually on August 11th, was officially proclaimed by the United Nations in 2023. This day honours the steelpan as an iconic musical instrument invented in Trinidad and Tobago and celebrates its profound cultural and historical importance.