As a direct follow up to Errol Fabien’s Freedom Walk of March 1st 2008, a Drug Demand Reduction Team has been formed. This team will be hosting mega events in a bid to reduce the demand for drugs in our society. We are intent on demonstrating that we can all have fun without the use of drugs.

The first in this series of events is the National Dance Past Competition to be held on Independence Day, August 31st 2008. The venue is the Woodbrook Youth Facility.

Our society is in crisis with the demand for drugs and we are intent on doing something about it. We know that this journey will be a great challenge, but just as people in recovery continue to emerge One Day at a Time, so to we know that step by step we could effect some reduction in the demand for drugs in our country.

The origin of the Gayelle Pierrot Awards stems from a shared vision the entire company. Gayelle The Channel thought it important that there exist an occasion where those persons less visible in society yet who still go beyond the call of duty in serving their communities are honoured. 

The Pierrot award is a token of recognition and appreciation for those who selflessly work to improve the communities they live in and for those who go the extra mile to help other people who may be in need. For the last three award ceremonies persons being honored were persons who committed the less noticed acts of charity and community spirit among us.

The premise of the Pierrot Awards is that the ordinary person can also aspire to greatness for their contribution to community. Gayelle honours people like this because they too work toward building Trinidad and Tobago and have added value in their way to society. Customarily Gayelle awards twelve statuettes to twelve persons, organizations or project groups nominated by members of the public as well as internal staff. The public is invited to nominate such individuals for the Gayelle community service award called the Pierrot Award.

The Pierrot is a traditional masquerade character who challenges his opponent with communication skills (the distinctive pierrot punning, spelling speech) and even martial art (stickfighting). Gayelle’s Pierrot is a silent witness and guardian of core values.

Gayelle The Channel acknowledges that there are many people out there who know what needs to be done to improve life in Trinidad and Tobago. Unfortunately many only "talk the talk". The Pierrot Awards are designed to salute those who "walk the walk".

Nominations for the Gayelle Pierrot Awards are now open and will remain open until August 18th 2008.

Watch the award ceremony on Independence night (August 31st 2008) at 7:30 pm.

[Free-To-Air 23 & 27, Cable 07 (FLOW-Trinidad & Cablevision-Grenada), Cable 03 (TRICO-Tobago), LIVE Internet stream: GayelleTV.com, JumpTV.com, IZARINI.com]

All nominations must be accompanied by an explanation as to why your nominee should receive a Pierrot Award as well as a brief biography of the nominee.