BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th August 2020)- Young musician 24-year-old Giving Isaac of College Street Ghaut is the featured fife tutor and maker at the ongoing 2020 annual Traditional Instrument Musical Workshop being conducted at Zack’s Historical- Cultural Library and Museum located at Buckley’s Estate.

In an interview with reporters on Friday 31st July, the fifer shared his passion and intention to keep the culture alive since “right now, me is the man in charge right now because there is nobody really keeping it up as I see it…”

Notably, Isaac is a former student of the annual workshop now in its 14th annual edition which is a two-part one this time around with a spate section for the fife.

Additionally, in expressing his sentiments while speaking to reporters, he uses both “fife” and “flute” when talking about the wind instrument. It is understood that a fife is a kind of smaller flute.

In a demonstration, Isaac at the outdoorsy fireplace made of three large stones, kerosene oil and coals, he explained: “Today we’ll be learning how to make the fife. Now what we do is we take a hot steel. We have certain sizes; we can’t just bore it with just any kind of steel. We have different sizes but we can’t work with any and any steel. Next, we heat the coals then put the steel under the coals.”

He added: “While the iron is getting hot what we do now is take the piece of pipe and push the iron through the piece of PVC pipe. It’s a PVC pipe that we use as the flute as you can hear it” he added while playing a short tune followed by “that’s the sound so if you don’t get this sound here, it is not doing anything.”

Isaac highlighted that he is taking precaution while teaching the fife making because he does not want the children to get burnt.

After boring the fife comes the sanding process and tuning of the instrument.

Asked by this reporter who taught the art of making fifes, he spoke highly of the well-known Mr. Pollock of Saddlers.

“He also taught me the National Anthem and I’m going to give you all a tune that he gave me the first time,” he commented further before blowing on the instrument once again.

In sharing his background as it relates to playing the instrument, Isaac told reporters: “The first workshop that Zack ever had was in 2007 and I was one of the first to go to that workshop and over the years, I elated and I had my own band and we made a lot of money as kids. As kids we didn’t know what to do with our money… I’ll tell you all, the most money we ever made was over US$700 within a day so that’s how I took this thing serious …and I’ve been blowing the flute since 2007 so you do the math and I also play the flute for the Huggins Masquerade.”

He made the observation that some of his peers who did not pay much attention to keeping at playing the flute but have been realising the benefits looking at his growth and development.

“Over the years with the flute, you see a lot of youngsters look down in the flute because I have other brethren who went to the flute class with Zack back in 2007 and they didn’t keep it up and now they see me now making money…”

Speaking about the instrument he said: “You have to embrace and express yourself with the flute because you cannot be like a mannequin. The only instrument that you wouldn’t really be moving like that is the drums or the keyboard or other instruments of that sort but what I’m saying is the that flute is a very important tool and it’s good that the youths them come to learn about the flute ….this flute, we cannot let it die, we cannot let the fife die out because it is dying out …right now me is the man in charge right now because there is nobody really to keeping it up as I see it…”

Isaac also listed the names of some past well-known fifers who he applauded for doing their part over the years.

Asked what inspires the passion he has for such a cultural tradition, he made mention of his father-Joaf Payne who is also a musician and a past member of the former famous Grand Ash 2 band.

“My father is the famous guitarist Joaf Payne. Joaf also played in many bands and Joaf also taught me that respect takes you around the world because he never paid a cent in travelling [for business]…and I’m just trying to keep that positive energy because everyone has a talent; the Bible says so.”

The work shop, which began on Monday 27th July is slated to end on Saturday 22nd August. Sessions are conducted 9AM to 1PM daily Mondays to Fridays while the closing ceremony is scheduled for the closing ceremony.

Wilmoth ‘Mighty Jules’ Solis from Dieppe Bay is the tutor for the banjo, guitar and cuatro instruments.

Workshop coordinator and Cultural Preservationist, Winston Zack Nisbett has informed this media house that there is space to accept about four to five more students.

Interested individuals are asked to call 664-9016 to register.

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 7th August 2020)- Close to a month before his 47th birthday, well-known police officer with over 20 years of service Wayne Joseph Maccou-commonly called Maccou- passed away from an illness, and his bravery during his years of service is being saluted.

On Sunday 2nd August 2020, the police public relations Department issued a statement saying: “It was with profound sadness that the High Command and rank and file of The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force learned of the passing of Constable Wayne Joseph Maccou on Saturday, August 01, 2020.”

It continued: “Born on September 05, 1973, Maccou hailed from the community of Sandy Point. He enlisted in the Police Force as a Special Constable in 1995 and was sworn in as a Constable in October 1998. He worked in several units and departments within the Force, but his last posting was with the Special Services Unit (SSU). Having served his country for close to 25 years, Maccou demonstrated a passion for the profession.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and a former head of the SSU, Adolph Adams, who worked with Constable Maccou for almost 10 years has reportedly described him as one of the Force’s bravest and most courageous members.

“Constable Wayne Maccou was a dedicated officer who served his Federation with distinction, professionalism and compassion. He was well-liked among his peers and throughout the communities he served. Our hearts were broken by the shocking news of his passing. He will be sadly missed by all of us, but will be remembered for his unwavering dedication and commitment to law enforcement. He loved his wife and his family dearly,” he is quoted as saying.

On behalf of the organisation, the Department has expressed that the High Command offers “condolences to the family and friends of the late Constable Wayne Maccou during our time of grief. We salute you for your years of distinguished service.”

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 31st July 2020) – St.Kitts-Nevis has recorded instances of down trees as part of its damage assessment following the passage of Tropical Cyclone #9 including an incident which has seen damage to a family home in Basseterre.

Deputy National Disaster Coordinator at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Claricia Langley-Stevens, while speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Tropical Cyclone #9/ COVID-19 Daily Briefing (5:00PM) on Wednesday 29th July 2020, disclosed that the Fire and Rescue Services responded to a call of a down tree in central Market Street and that the tree fell on a home where a family resides.

“Thankfully, there were no injuries. However, the report indicates that the tree needs to be assessed because it’s a really huge tree; one of age and that assessment will be done tomorrow but there was some mild clearing of the area so that the family can have access to the home and so were very thankful for that.”

Langley-Stevens said the Community and Services Department has reached out to the family to ensure that the support that can be given to them was made available.

She thanked the general public who contacted the NEOC with that information.

The NEMA official said further that the Damage Assessment Committee indicated that the assessment that was done at Old Road Bay area was a very successful one and the area was deemed safe and clear.

Further assessment was planned for into the night and the next day so as to give updates to the general public.

Meanwhile Nevis Premier Mark Brantley at his monthly press conference held on Thursday 30th July, spoke about the “all clear” that the island had been given noting that the only thing suffered was a down tree on island main near Noel’s Courtesy Garage that was cleared. He also said that there was major damage on the island except for beach erosion.

The Federation has been spared a direct impact of the storm.

Senior Met Officer Elmo Burke, in giving an update on the weather informed: “As of 5pm today, tropical storm warnings were discontinued for us here in St. Kitts and Nevis. At the same time, 5PM Tropical Cyclone # 9 was located at 16.4 degrees north, 65.6 degrees west and that puts it at about 200 miles southwest of the St. Kitts. It was moving in west north westerly direction at 24 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of about 45 miles per hour. Based on the trajectory, it will continue to move further and further away from St.Kitts and Nevis and as such the weather conditions are expected to improve.”

That day also a down high voltage pole in the vicinity of John England Village in St.Peter’s led to a disruption in service affecting customers from New Road heading north to Milliken.

No injuries or damages were reported.

At an emergency press conference organised by NEMA on Tuesday 28th July, members of the public were advised that only essential workers were expected to report to work the following day as the storm’s impact was expected at 8AM with weather peak conditions around 12 noon.

BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 31st July 2020) – “This tragedy we know has been seen as a Nevis tragedy all these years; we’re saying it is time that the nation recognizes it as a national tragedy. That yes the majority of persons who died were from Nevis but many from St.Kitts also perished on that fateful day. We have persons who have also survived and so we pay homage to them and of course to their memory of loved ones lost.”

So said Premier Mark Brantley at his monthly press conference on Thursday 30th July 2020 whereby he informed that a special sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly is scheduled to take place on Friday 31st July 2020 in observation of the 50th anniversary of the Christena Disaster.

“This weekend, we are going to have a very important commemoration and that is the 50th anniversary of the Christena Disaster. The Christena, as we know, was the inter-island ferry that transported persons between St.Kitts and Nevis. It was the only ferry at the time. It was government-owned and on that fateful day of August 1st 1970, it left Basseterre on its final trip to Charlestown badly overcrowded. We are told that it should have had 150 persons onboard; it had well over 300. The consequence was that in calm seas on that day just off what is referred to as Nag’s Head, it sank, and in sinking over 230 persons perished. Many their bodies have never been found, many were buried or trapped inside the vessel and were buried at sea. Still others are in a mass grave at the Bart Cemetery, still others – we are told are in a mass grave at the Springfield Cemetery in St.Kitts, and that has been the legacy.”

He continued: “We in the government and the Nevis Island Assembly have seen it fit to mark the 50th anniversary in a very significant way. We will have tomorrow-God’s willing-Friday at 10 am a special sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly. The sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly is designed to give those who will speak an opportunity to pay their respects and also commemorate in a formal and dignified way this tragedy.”

According to him: “This sitting will be a sitting with a difference to mark the somber occasion and the significant milestone of 50 years since the tragedy. We have invited all of our former prime ministers and our current prime minister to speak, and this would be the first time that they would be addressing the Nevis Island Assembly. In addition, we’ve invited all of our former premiers and the current Premier also to speak. Of course, we have lost Sir Simeon [Daniel] and so he cannot speak. Interestingly enough, however, is that one of the speakers who we expect- Sir Kennedy Simmonds, our only living national hero who was the only medical officer on Nevis at the time of this tragedy and so he brings a unique perspective to this tragedy that we hope he might be able to share with us tomorrow.”

Individuals can tune into NTV and VON Radio for live streaming of the event.