Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

One of Grenada's leading furniture and appliance stores, Courts Grenada Ltd., has renewed its contract with the Melville Street-based, steel orchaestra, New Dimension.

The official renewal of the sponsorship contract of $50,000 was announced last Thursday at the company's main office on Young Street, St. George's. "We are extremely proud to be able to further strengthen our partnership with New Dimension through another three-year sponsorship contract", said Managing Director of Courts Steve Brickell at the signing ceremony.

According to Brickell, the sponsorship of New Dimension is being done under the Courts Community Care Programme under which the company has pledged half-a-million dollars to be used in various areas such as culture, sports, education, health and community development over a five -year period.
"Our corporate philosophy dictates that wherever it operates, Courts must contribute to the economic, social and human development of the country; We feel that our sponsorship of New Dimension is an integral part of our effort to meet this mandate", he said.

"The first three years of our association has indeed brought many positives for both Courts and New Dimensions. Within these three years the band has won two out of three National Championships in which they participated", he added.

The Courts Managing Director was high in praise for the steel orchaestra, saying that the band has not only carried itself and the Courts brand with the highest level of pride and integrity, but also promoted Grenada well through its sterling performances in regional and international festivals.

In praising the steelband, Brickell indicated that "Courts New Dimension has and continues to play a vital role preserving and promoting the steel pan art form in Grenada." He noted that the band is responsible for assisting eight schools involved in the Steel Band music programme in Grenada.

"Obviously this activity provides a positive medium through which our youth can channel their energy resulting in increased social stability", he remarked. Manager and Arranger of Courts New Dimension, David 'Peck' Edwards admitted that since Courts got involved with the band, better things have been happening to them.

He said the band sees its members as Ambassadors for Grenada and is very grateful to Courts for its sponsorship over the past three years. Edwards pledged to Courts representatives that they will do their best and keep the Courts flag flying.

New Dimension was formed in March 1988 by a group of young people from St.George's. Out of 13 appearances in the National Panorama Championships, the band won seven times.

New Dimension placed 3rd in the first ever Caribbean Panorama Championship only narrowly being defeated by two bands from Trinidad and Tobago. In 2002, Courts New Dimension placed sixth in the World Steel Band Music Festival and last June it represented Grenada at the sixth Barbados Music Festival.The band has also performed at several top hotels in the country and on board Cruise Ships.

On June 17, Courts New Dimension will represent the Spice Isle at the 2005 World Music Festival in New York, where they will perform among eight bands coming from Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and North America.

"We are quite certain that they will do very well, not just in terms of performance but also in terms of promoting Grenada at this international event", said Brickell.