Police bring bold moves to parade

The thousands of spectators who gathered at the Victoria Park for the 31st anniversary of Independence military parade on Wednesday morning, received an unexpected treat from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force band.{{more}}

Band members, led by Deputy Bandmaster Station Sergeant Bernard “Jamback” Haynes, showed the nation that they possess skills outside the playing of trombones, trumpets, flutes and drums.

The band’s surprise performance was unveiled to the audience with the introduction of two tenor pan playing constables: Delano Bristol and Sean Jack.

The dynamic, dancing, steel pan duo, with the pans strung from their necks, accompanied the rest of the band in covers of local soca artistes: Bomani’s 2010 release ‘Le Bush’ and Maddzart’s ‘Wine Pon Me’, along with other local and traditional renditions.

The steel pan, as an instrument, was added to the Police Force band as part of the ‘Pan Against Crime’ Initiative, which saw the introduction of steel orchestras to a number of communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The unexpected entertainment did not stop there.

Drum Major Constable Omaro Thomas then stepped forward and wowed the crowd with a number of breathtaking twirls of the baton, which had the audience applauding and calling for more.

He was followed by Constable Cemal Gordon, who displayed his break dancing and moonwalking techniques for all to see. Gordon capped off his performance with a well executed somersault much to the delight of all.

Deputy Bandmaster Haynes surprised the parade when he handed his baton to Gordon and displayed some break dancing dance moves of his own. Haynes, who has participated in every Independence Day parade since 1979, told Searchlight that the impetus to do something different, came after members of the public criticized the band for producing ‘boring’ displays at the parade each year.

He said in an effort to come up with something more entertaining, he brainstormed with members of the band and he, with assistance from the band members, put together the package which was presented.

Haynes said he is pleased with the response from the general public and realizes that the bar has been raised, and even more will be expected from the band in the future.

The entertainment was not restricted to the parade field however.

A lynx helicopter nicknamed ‘The Sting’ from the visiting British naval ship HMS Manchester flew over the Victoria Park prior to the police performance, performing a few aerial maneuvers.

The helicopter also took a symbolic ‘bow’ before returning to the ship, docked in the Kingstown Harbour.