THE sounds of gunshots, police sirens and screeching tyres were heard as the San Fernando Central Secondary School put on a sobering production during the San Fernando Arts Council’s SanFest 2009 yesterday.

The school used the theme ’Crime Does Not Pay’ at the Choral Speaking and Story Telling finals to voice their concerns about criminal activity at the competition.

’Why the robberies, kidnappings, violence, drugs and the senseless ravaging of our land by thugs? Why so much pain and suffering,’ the audience heard.

SanFest is organised by the San Fernando Arts Council in conjunction with the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

The finals are taking place daily until November 5 at the Creative Arts Centre, Circular Road, San Fernando.

This year’s theme is ’The Arts-The Heartbeat and Soul of A Nation’.

There has been a low audience turnout but this has not affected the high quality of the productions.

During the story-telling competition Keisha Philly and Amelia Joseph of Carapichaima Central Secondary gave emotion-filled stories about two young women who wanted attention from their parents and friends.

Joseph said, ’Clarice tried to keep up with the clownish clip at school. She just wanted to fit in, but a few days later she was found in a canefield beaten, strangled and tied up. So please, this is a message for the youths, friends would carry you astray and doh bring you back, so choose your peers wisely.’

Philly said that her character at the age of 15 years got everything from her parents except love and affection.

She would have traded all she had just for a hug from her mother. But, when she did not get it from them she turned to other people.

’Five years later she died and then her parents hugged her cold tombstone, all she ever wanted was just a hug but not after her death’ Philly said.

The following is today’s schedule: Primary 9 a.m. music; 1 p.m. music.