Prime Minister Patrick Manning has set aside $5 million of taxpayer’s money to fund his creation-the Divine Echoes Orchestra.

It means that more than $10 million has since been invested in the band, launched with much fanfare at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain back in October 2007.

Manning said then that it had cost more than $1 million for the musical instruments purchased in Miami.

He said the band would not be a ’government’ band and while it would be initially funded, the orchestra would be ’weaned’ off State money.

But according to the draft estimates of expenditure laid in Parliament last Monday, some $4 million was spent by the band for fiscal 2009.

The estimate of expenditure for the Office of the Prime Minister shows that Manning, who chairs the policy committee of the Finance Ministry, will spend more on the band this year.

The Divine Echoes band played last Saturday night at a free public concert at the Pleasantville East Secondary School-in Manning’s San Fernando East constituency.

Manning and wife Hazel attended along with San Fernando West Member of Parliament Junia Regrello, and Culture Minister Marlene McDonald.

Manning brought his band to his constituency three weeks ago at the Cocoyea Community Complex.

That too was free to his constituents.

The 28-member band, which includes trombonists, guitarists, drummers, saxophonist, vocalists and pianists, practise out of a rented building at Charlieville, Chaguanas.

The band members referred all queries for information to Communications specialist at the Office of the Prime Minister Roy Rique, or Permanent Secretary with the Office of the Prime Minister Sandra Marchack.