Slowly, the morning sky over Paramaribo filled with rhythmic drumming as the Police Chapel marked its 130th anniversary. In neat line, corps members of the Suriname Police Force (KPS) marched through the streets as part of the "Bigi Yari," the corps' grand anniversary celebration.
The celebrations began on June 13, when Chief of Police Bryan Isaacs launched the new musical work in the main office Hermandad received, an ode to brotherhood. Two weeks later, on June 27, veterans, current members and guests gathered at Ballroom Prince for an evening program that interspersed musical interludes with anecdotes from the past century and a half. On July 1, the corps wrapped up the festivities with a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Basilica.
The route started and ended at Keizer Street police station and led past Central Market. Along the side, onlookers stopped to admire the accurate rhythm and uniformity of the brass band. Two men near the marketplace effortlessly took over the steps and praised the precision with which each instrument sounded. Others stood breathlessly watching, visibly touched by the togetherness that permeated every beat.
