Kirsty says "Carry on Drumming"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 10th Jul 2006

Passers-by and Saturday morning shoppers were stopped in their tracks at noon outside St Mary's church, Brecon, on July 8th by the unexpected sight and sound of around forty people of all ages drumming away on assorted instruments from saucepans to bongo drums. Under the expert tuition of local drummer Jude Vaughan, supporters of Brecon Trade Justice Group played a series of rhythms from Senegal, West Africa. Organised by Christian Aid, this exciting, lively and colourful musical event was one of over a hundred taking place at midday all over Britain, exactly one year after the end of the "Make Poverty History" G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

Focusing on the theme "The beat goes on," the aim was to remind the Government as loudly as possible that it must keep all the promises made on debt, aid and especially trade, which were made then. Local MP Roger Williams, AM Kirsty Williams and Mayor of Brecon, Councillor Mark Morgan all willingly lent their support, proving to be experts on the drums. Drummers and onlookers heard Jeff Williams, National Organiser for Christian Aid Wales, explain how vital it is for Government to deliver on all the promises made a year ago. Roger Williams mentioned his own Parliamentary involvement in trade issues, and welcomed the steady stream of letters and postcards he receives from constituents on the subject, reminding us that MPs have to respond to their post bags. "Carry on the good work of drumming up support for Trade Justice" Roger urged everyone.

After drumming non-stop for over five minutes, as part of attempt to break the World Drumming Record, all the participants signed the Christian Aid petition to be sent to Gordon Brown asking him to use his influence at the forthcoming International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meeting in Singapore in September, to allow developing countries to implement their own trade policies rather than sometimes forcing them to accept IMF solutions as a condition of receiving aid.

An enthusiastic Kirsty Williams declared "Brecon has already done a great deal to promote Trade Justice and I am delighted to see this morning that Brecon is still drumming home the message."

Tess Featherstone, Joint Secretary, Brecon Trade Justice Group 01874 658257