The Whyte brothers of Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, some of whom reside overseas recently donated several pieces of musical instruments to the Council Of Friends Of New Amsterdam (COFONA) Band of New Amsterdam Berbice.
The COFONA organisation has both an overseas and local chapter. The donation was made in memory of their later mother, Winifred Whyte.
The handing over ceremony was held at the New Amsterdam Town Hall, where Mayor Winifred Haywood and President of the COFONA local chapter, Ms Marcia Williams, received the instruments.
“It is a pleasure to see what the COFONA band is doing in keeping persons gainfully engage and also helping them to learn a skill. It wasn’t a difficult choice in choosing whom to donate the items to, when asked,” they said.
Despite the complications in getting the items cleared, the family is happy that the instruments will be used to help, especially youths.
In accepting the gifts on behalf of the COFONA organisation Ms Marcia Williams expressed gratitude to the Whyte family on behalf of the overseas and local chapters.
She reminded those present of the ongoing need for instruments, due to the fact that there is an increasing number of youths who have become members of the band.
Also present were Deputy Mayor Wainwright Mc Intosh. Both Mayor Haywood and Deputy Mayor Mc Intosh also expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Whyte brothers for their kind and thoughtful gesture.
Among the items donated were a Trombone, a Clarinet, four side drums (Marching band drums) along with straps, 35 drum sticks and maintenance lotions.
