EU supports Pan Institute

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Head of the delegation of the European Union Trinidad and Tobago, Solomon Ioannou, says he was a “proud European” to see funds from the European Union, EU, being used to support the initiative of the Diatonic Pan Institute at a one-day conference on Saturday 11 June 2011 in Siparia, South Trinidad.

Head of the Diatonic Pan Institute, Keith Byer, conceptualized the conference, which was held under the theme: ‘Culture and Sports-A tool for social transformation’.

This was in keeping with the EU’s policy of investing and empowering youths.

“The strategy acknowledges that while young people are a precious insurance, they are in fact one of the most vulnerable groups in society, especially in the current economic and financial crisis,” Solomon said.

Solomon said the EU’s policy involves key policy areas such as education, civic participation, employment, creativity and entrepreneurship, health and sports.

Most European young people are open to the world.

“They are eager to learn about other countries and cultures and wish to share their views and experiences with young people from other regions,” Solomon explained, as he painted a picture of the EU’s role in youth development.

Byer made the point that, in the 1960s, the then prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Eric Williams, turned to the playing of the steel pan to help curb the rising crime in the country.

“Culture and sports can curb violence,” Byer stated.

He lamented the fact that emphasis is placed on acquiring more police vehicles, building more police stations and having more police officers as “the powers-that-be” set about to curb crime but stated one must commit a crime to become a criminal.

“We have to stop the crime,” Byer said. “That is why we have to go out and spread the message.”

Byer said the EU had agreed to help Diatonic in spreading the message of crime prevention, using culture and sports.

Educationist Marcia Riley, musician/entrepreneur Kenny Phillips, pannist Nestor Sullivan, sports administrator Richard Braithwaite and Damion Richardson made presentations at the conference.

The conference will move to Trinidad and Tobago’s capital, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday 25 June.