Guyana Goldfields Incorporated (AGM Inc) yesterday presented Simeon Browne, the winner of its songwriting competition with a cheque for $250,000.
AGM Inc. hosted a songwriting competition with the intention of finding a song that captured the “corporate spirit and underpinning principles” of the company. The competition also served as a commemoration of the company’s gold production activities in Guyana and solidifies its role in building partnerships for sustainable development.
A total of 23 persons participated in the competition and submitted entries spanning several genres including Country Western, Soul, Hip hop and Chutney. The songwriting competition, which was open to both amateur and professional songwriters in Guyana, saw entries from several well-known local artistes including Vanilla, Tennecia Defreitas, Remar and Ossie O Nedd.
The competition was judged based on melody, originality, composition and lyrics. Participants were required to mention the name “Guyana Goldfields” or “AGM Inc.” and had the option of mentioning the themes, “Proudly building a world class mine” and “Your partner for sustainable development.”
Though judging the submissions proved a difficult feat, it was the entry titled “Golden Future” by Browne that won out in the end.
When asked what set Browne’s song apart from the rest, Leon Roberts, the company’s CSR Field Assistant told Stabroek News that it was Browne’s adequate capture of the company’s vision that ultimately catapulted him into the winner’s seat.
“When we read the lyrics it made sense to us, it related to the corporate vision and put out exactly what we wanted.”
Browne, when asked what inspired the winning lyrics, told Stabroek News that he was trying to think ahead of his time and imagine what gold would be like in the future. Golden Future’s lyrics incorporate both of the company’s themes and captures the corporation’s key goal of providing sustainable practices by presenting a vivid visual of AGM Inc.’s role in the economic, social and environmental spheres.
Browne stated that although this is the first songwriting competition of this magnitude he has entered, he has written for other competitions before, citing the Calypso and Soca Monarch competitions where he co-wrote for colleagues Mark Batson and Ernesta Nelson.
Simeon easily credits his career as a songwriter to his mother, who he said stressed the importance of literacy from a tender age and is ultimately responsible for his love of songwriting.
“It was really my mother that sparked this interest in writing because she would read to me and she would always stress the importance of reading and writing and that in itself propelled me to just focus on songwriting throughout life.”
The winning song, “Golden Future” will be featured in the company’s soon-to-be released documentary and will make its official debut on September 15 at AGM Inc.’s Gold Tour Ceremony. Lyrics to the song can be seen below.
Golden Future
Guyana goldfields
Leads the way to the golden future
Guyana goldfields all the way
Proudly building a world-class mine
And Since 96 we have served this land
Creating jobs for the hardworking man
Guyana goldfields leads the way
Proudly building a world class mine
The aurora gold project is proof of the continued progress we bring to you
Oh mineral exploration and development of gold deposits in this beautiful land
Guyana goldfields
“Your partner for sustainable development”.
