00:00We are not criminals. For the first time since the weekend confrontation with police,
00:06Silver Star Steel Orchestra is publicly telling its side of the story.
00:10The incident unfolded during the Tribe launch event at the Queen's Park Savannah
00:14in the early hours of Sunday, when officers moved into the band's formation while it was performing.
00:21Several players were detained, sparking outrage within the steel band community.
00:25Now, in a detailed statement, the orchestra insists,
00:41The band said it had originally been scheduled to perform earlier,
00:45but after several delays, was asked to perform at the end of the event.
00:49It says it was never informed of any permit restrictions.
00:52According to the statement, officers entered the band shortly after the music started.
00:58Silver Starz claims a uniformed officer physically stopped its drummer before the situation escalated.
01:05The orchestra alleges a man in plain clothes then threw one of its instruments to the ground
01:11before attacking a player who attempted to retrieve it.
01:14Silver Starz says other officers joined the confrontation,
01:17causing players to become trapped beneath steel pans and stands,
01:22leaving several members injured and instruments damaged.
01:26The band maintains,
01:27The players of Silver Starz did not at any point aggress or put hands on anyone,
01:32nor were we defiant when asked to stop playing.
01:36Instead, the orchestra says,
01:38The issue was a misunderstanding over the event permit that should have been resolved
01:43with organizers or band management, not performers.
01:47While reaffirming its commitment to working alongside law enforcement,
01:52the orchestra says,
01:52We cannot accept the unwarranted abuse our players endured.
01:57Our players are family.
01:58The members of Silver Starz are all young, law-abiding citizens
02:02who have been contributing to the steel band art form for most of their lives.
02:08The band also thanked Pantran VEGO president Beverly Ramsey-Moore,
02:12tribe officials, members of the steel band fraternity,
02:15and the public for what it described as an overwhelming show of support.
02:20Arvishita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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