Republic Bank has injected BDS$85 000 in sponsorship into the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) pan event.
The Republic Bank Pandemonium, considered one of the highly-anticipated events on the 2022 Crop Over calendar, shall be held on July 24, on the National Botanical Gardens.
During a press launch at Republic Bank, Warrens, St Michael, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anthony Clerk, said that as a company member of the broader society, the bank is blissful to donate the cash to make the event a hit.
He said Republic Bank looks forward to continuing to work with the NCF and encouraged the remainder of corporate Barbados to search out their area of interest and lend some support to the national festival because it makes a comeback after its two-year hiatus.
“Amidst unfolding events on the worldwide stage, all of us are making an effort to return to a path of healing and growth. It’s reassuring to see the resurgence of cultural events resembling Pandemonium. What we’ve all longed for many on the road to recovery from the pandemic, is safely celebrating Caribbean culture and the easy enjoyment of excellent friends and good music,” Clerk said.
The CEO reminded the audience that pan music stays a shared cultural thread between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. He said so far, Trinidad’s renowned Exodus Steel Orchestra continues to be sponsored by Republic Financial Holdings Limited, Republic Bank’s parent company.
“Our support of Pandemonium is all about ensuring pan lives on as a vital legacy bequeathed to us from generations past, to capture the hearts of future generations, in addition to those that visit our shores.
“As a member of the company community and a signatory to the principles of responsible banking we see pan as each a sound investment within the preservation of culture and investment in an artform that also offers job creation,” Clerk said.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the NCF Carol Roberts applauded Republic Bank for not only the funds they’ve pumped into the signature pan event, but additionally their commitment and involvement in Crop Over throughout the years.
She said while the BDS $85 000 is welcomed and appreciated, it’s the worth of the bank’s commitment that’s immeasurable. The sum of cash boils all the way down to “an accounting function”, she added.
“You possibly can have so easily said ‘we’ve got modified directions, not going to go together with you this yr, Grand Kadooment just isn’t our thing’. However the incontrovertible fact that you searched for something in our calendar and made it yours is actually worthy of acknowledgment and I thanks,” Roberts-Reifer said.
The Chief Executive Officer added: “I talked concerning the value of commitment deliberately for the members of the media who for you it could actually sometimes be really easy again to play that accounting function. So as to add up the numbers and choose whether sponsorship is up or down, whether there may be a rise and by what percentage, what number of sponsors are onboard and what events they’re sponsoring.
“I urge you to take a look at the backstory to that, the extent of commitment, the extent of dedication, the worth of relationships each corporate and cultural once we all come together, not for the advantage of the person entity, not just for the advantage of the festival – all of those things are essential – but for the advantage of the country where young people have a say, responsible, vibrant, empowering opportunity to learn to play pan which then brings our culture and our heritage together,” Roberts-Reifer said. (AH)
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