Gala concert to benefit St Francis RC, Belmont

On April 10, Palm Sunday the ‘Gala Belmont Heritage Benefit’ will take place at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) Port of Spain to raise funds for the restoration of the St Francis of Assisi RC Church, Belmont, which will be 120 years old in May.

Performers include the National Philharmonic Orchestra, Orange Sky, BP Renegades, QED, The Lydians. Tickets can be purchased from NAPA’s box office 627-1104, Marilyn Lee Woo 624-7991/797-9883, Mickal Pierre 799-3306, Linda Stephen 789-4145, and Jose Nivet 388-9039. There will be a livestream of the show.

The St Francis of Assisi Building Committee held a media launch Thursday, March 10 at the St Dominic’s Pastoral Centre, Belmont to promote the restoration project and appeal for public support.

Dennis Mc Comie, Belmont resident and creative director, said St Francis is a “treasure” and has been part of the Belmont community for 120 years serving not just in religion but also economic, social, emotional, and psychological needs of the community and anyone visiting the area. Mc Comie said: “We want anybody who hears us today to invest and partner with us to be able to improve not only Belmont but Trinidad and Tobago.”

Chairman of the Gala Belmont Heritage Benefit, Jose Nivet said, “We have a long haul ahead of us, it took us five years to get to the first phase of $5.7 million and we obviously have a lot of work to do so… the support of corporate sponsors, the support of the state agencies, the support of the whole population to support the built heritage of our districts and our nation will help towards the restoration project”. Phase one of restoration ends in May and the scope of works subsequently prepared for phase two. It has been estimated at “upwards of $5 million”.

Persons interested in contributing to the restoration project can do so at: Republic Bank, Woodbrook Acct# 510800063201

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