Pandemonium at Republic Bank

Republic Bank has injected BDS$85 000 in sponsorship into the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) pan event.

The Republic Bank Pandemonium, one of the highly-anticipated events on the 2022 Crop Over calendar, will be held on July 24, at 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 corporate member of the wider society, the bank is happy to donate the money to make the event a success.

He said Republic Bank looks forward to continuing to work with the NCF and encouraged the rest of corporate Barbados to find their niche and lend some support to the national festival as it makes a comeback after its two-year hiatus.

“Amidst unfolding events on the global stage, we all are making an effort to return to a path of healing and growth. It is reassuring to see the resurgence of cultural events such as Pandemonium. What we’ve all longed for most on the road to recovery from the pandemic, is safely celebrating Caribbean culture and the simple enjoyment of good friends and good music,” Clerk said.

The CEO reminded the audience that pan music remains a shared cultural thread between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. He said to date, 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 an important legacy bequeathed to us from generations past, to capture the hearts of future generations, as well as those who visit our shores.

“As a member of the corporate community and a signatory to the principles of responsible banking we see pan as both a sound investment in 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 have pumped into the signature pan event, but also their commitment and involvement in Crop Over throughout the years.

She said while the BDS $85 000 is welcomed and appreciated, it is the value of the bank’s commitment that is immeasurable. The sum of money boils down to “an accounting function”, she added.

“You could have so easily said ‘we have changed directions, not going to go with you this year, Grand Kadooment is not our thing’. But the fact that you looked for something in our calendar and made it yours is really worthy of acknowledgment and I thank you,” Roberts-Reifer said.

The Chief Executive Officer added: “I talked about the value of commitment deliberately for the members of the media who for you it can sometimes be so easy again to play that accounting function. To add up the numbers and decide whether sponsorship is up or down, whether there is an increase and by what percentage, how many sponsors are onboard and what events they are sponsoring.

“I urge you to look at the backstory to that, the level of commitment, the level of dedication, the value of relationships both corporate and cultural when we all come together, not for the benefit of the individual entity, not only for the benefit of the festival – all of those things are important – but for the benefit 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)