To Table of Contents
The Police Band fulfills approximately one hundred and twenty( 120) engagements yearly for a variety of Government and private functions, which includes military parades, cocktails, parties, parish festivals, church processions, National carnival shows, weddings, sports, open – air and school concerts. Apart from the many public and private engagements as mentioned, the RGPF Band also provides support services to other Stations / Departments within the RGPF in the areas of Beat and mobile Patrols, Flied officer, Inspector on call, Security, Guard duty etc. The Band also acts as a reserve unit to SSU in times of national emergency.
The Band obtains its membership by the volunteering of young and vibrant men and women from the age of sixteen( 16) coming forward and expressing their desire to play an instrument through application, interview and Audition. There is someone specially tasked with the responsibility to train persons for the Band In the areas of Drills, Practical musicianship, Theory of music and work ethics.
Over the past decades the Police Band through its renowned musical performances was ranked and still ranked the best performing Band on the Island of Grenada and the Caribbean. This is mainly as a result of its Dance Section that was introduced between the periods of 1970-1971. The Police Band has produced five( 5) National calypso Monarchs. Due to the Band’ s musical standard and popularity, it has made a number of international and regional tours to the U. S. A, England, Barbados, Suriname Guadeloupe, Antigua, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia.
The activities of the RGPF Band over the past years have undoubtedly projected a proactive image of the RGPF. It also provides a fantastic public relations tool for the RGPF in helping to show a different side of policing to the community through music and other support services. These activities have strengthened
existing co-operation and collaboration between communities and various government departments. It expanded a greater public awareness of RGPF activities and gave the various RGPF programs and projects a more meaningful impact as there occurs.
The Police Band continues to grow from strength to strength under the leadership of Inspector Ethorn Francis and continues to rank among the best both locally and regionally.
The Police Band will open the Spice Island Cultural Festival on July 10, playing the National Anthems of Canada and Grenada. They will also accompany the Calypsonians as they perform for the virtual audience.