Republic Bank partners with Sanch Electronix to Launch PETE the Panstick

Caption: Republic Bank's Group General Counsel/Corporate Secretary, Ms. Jacqueline Quamina, (on left) stands with Simeon Sandiford, Managing Director of Sanch Electronix and Executive Producer of Pete the Panstick (second from left), Dr. Riyad Insanally of the OAS and Ian Ivey, Chairman of Next Corporation, at the launch of Pete the Panstick, which was held on Tuesday, at Digicel IMAX Cimema, One Woodbrook Place.

On Tuesday 24, the auditorium of the Digicel IMAX Cinema, at One Woodbrook Place, Port-of-Spain echoed with the sweet sounds of the steel pan, as Pete the Panstick was unveiled to a large and appreciative audience.

Pete the Panstick is a self-instructional software aimed at teaching school children to play the steel pan via a bilingual (Spanish and English) character. It was created by Camille Selvon Abrahams, for Sanch Electronix Limited, to introduce an educational curriculum designed to teach children the instrument.

Speaking at the software's launch, Republic Bank's Group General Counsel/Corporate Secretary, Ms. Jacqueline Quamina, outlined the benefits of this type of software, while emphasising on the Bank's commitment to preserving the Nation's culture, through its social investment programme, the Power to Make a Difference.

"Republic Bank recognises the benefits that music can bring to the development of a child and our commitment to our children and to music is done through the pan."
She added, "Republic Bank seeks to make a difference with our children and what better way to do this than through sport and culture, and many of the projects that fall under the umbrella of the Power to Make a Difference Programme have this focus."

The audience comprised members of the Diplomatic Corp, UNDP representatives, staff of Republic Bank Limited, students and teachers.

Simeon Sandiford, Managing Director of Sanch Electronix and Executive Producer of Pete the Panstick, demonstrated the use of the software and received a thunderous applause for its creativity.

Other speakers at the event included, Ian Ivey, Chairman of Next Corporation and Dr. Riyad Insanally of the OAS, who delivered the feature address.

Mr. Alfred Aguiton, the voice behind Pete the Panstick, was absent at Tuesday's event.

Republic Bank takes pride in being a part of this innovative and educational software.