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UTC Sponsors Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra

The Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) is now a partial sponsor of the Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra of Black Rock, Tobago. Traditionally an avid supporter of the national steel band movement, the UTC is pleased to be associated with one of the island’s prized steel bands.

The Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra was formed in 1951 by twelve youths in Black Rock under the captaincy of Ethelbert Williams and is one of the oldest playing steel bands in Trinidad and Tobago. Over the years the band, which consists largely of youthful members, has secured coveted positions in several major competitions including Second Place in National Youth Pan Fiesta 2004 as well as Tobago Junior Panorama 2004 and 2005. The band created history in Tobago by being the only steel band on the island to win the national tune of choice in 1967 and the First Place in Pan in the 21^st Century 2004. Last year was very successful overall for the band as it also copped first place in the Carib Bomb and NLCB Power Jam Competitions.

The Katzenjammers has received a generous share of international recognition through touring Montreal, Canada in 1975 and most recently in October 2004 thrilling European audiences in five countries during a European Road Show sponsored by the Tobago House of Assembly. The Band, now led by Jemma Duke, is looking forward to participating in the upcoming Republic Pan Fiesta in September locally.

On behalf of the UTC, Mrs. Jennifer Fabien-Browne, Manager – Tobago Operations, recently met with the Band’s PRO - Beverly Ramsey-Moore as well as other executive band members, to extend the Corporation’s heartfelt satisfaction with the partnership and to wish them good luck in the upcoming competition.

The UTC continues to demonstrate its commitment to the development of national culture through its support of traditional, conventional and school steel bands.

Press Statement

A Winning Combination

The pride of Maloney continues to be the success of their basketball team. Unit Trust Maloney Pacers continued their winning-streak as they copped both the first and second Eastern Zone Division Basketball titles.

Victory over the Royal Extra Lions came as UTC Maloney Pacers most valuable players Miguel Williams and Maxime Perreira led the team to the top spot in division one. Breaking down Brian Chase Academy Veterans was most valuable player Nigel Tommy Joseph who led the Pacers to win division two.

Since 1999 Unit Trust Corporation has been the main sponsor of the Maloney Pacers, who have dominated the East Zone Division, winning every year since 2003. Similar success has been attained by the UTC Maloney Pacers female team; achieving the same winning track record.

These unlikely heroes and heroines are becoming legends both on and off the court, since apart from their success on the basketball court, a major focus of the team has been to secure university scholarships for its players. To date, 18 of their players have gone on to further their studies in the United States with some of them carrying on to play basketball professionally in Europe. The elusive goal is to have their players playing professional basketball in the Unites States (NBA and WNBA). The coach of the team, Christopher Jackson Charles says, “His focus has not been on just the team winning tournaments but on his players personal development both on and off the court.”

The Unit Trust Maloney pacers will be competing in the National Basketball Tournament, which will commence October 15, 2005. The Last time this tournament was held in 2003, the team placed second in a nail-biting affair to the National Flour Mills. This time around the team is aiming to go one better and assume its rightful place at the top of Trinidad and Tobago Basketball.

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