‘50 years, and we jamming still,’ Senator Lewis says as he congratulates Halcyon Steel
“It has been 50 years, and we jamming still; 50 years, with musical talent and skill; 50 years of pan music in the air; 50 years, with passion, style and flair; 50 years of providing the nation with pulsating steelpan music that helped in uniting us as a people,” Senator Richard S Lewis said of the Halcyon Steel Orchestra on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary as a champion progenitor of steelpan music.
Lewis, the United Progressive Party’s candidate for the St John’s Rural West Constituency made the remarks recently as he donated a number of polo shirts and assorted drinks to the steel band which hails from the Gray’s Green community.
Halycon’s Captain, Dwayne Mussington, and Fitzroy “Blakie” Philip, a longstanding band member, accepted the items on behalf of the band.
In making his presentation and offering his congratulations to Halcyon, Lewis — who is also the Minority Leader in the Senate — pledged his continued support to the band, which has embarked on a series of events to commemorate its 50 years of existence and providing enriching steel band music for the people of Antigua and Barbuda, and indeed, the world.
In a video made for the occasion, Lewis took the opportunity to congratulate the Halcyon Steel Orchestra, which he called a “leading cultural institution in our Gray’s Green community”.
He also gave a brief history of the Halcyon Steel Orchestra and its successful emergence in the St John’s Rural West community. He spoke of the role that Sir Selvyn Walter (now deceased) played in the life of the band and his delivery on a campaign promise he made 50 years ago to residents to establish a steel orchestra in the community.
The establishment of the band gave birth to a great cultural institution. Lewis commended and thanked Sir Selvyn for his hard work, along with the help of other founding members, to build that solid foundation on which the steel band continues to exist.
By Antigua Observer
