The Divine Echoes Orchestra – a creation of former prime minister Patrick Manning – is seeking corporate sponsorship.

Band manager Tamba Gwindi said the contract for the State-run orchestra expires in August and may not be renewed.

Divine Echoes, formed in 2007, operates under the Office of the Prime Minister.

"We have had no confirmation for a renewal of contract for the band at all. We function with the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and we get all information through her. To date we have not had any meeting and we are not sure what is happening with the contract," he said.

Gwindi insisted that Divine Echoes would survive, even if its contract is not renewed.

He said band members were seeking funding for the orchestra elsewhere.

"We have had verbal interaction (with Government officials) and were told that we need to prepare for the event that the contract is not renewed," he said.

Gwindi said the orchestra was never invited to perform at functions hosted by the People's Partnership Government.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Rodger Samuel was the only Government official to visit the band, he said.

"We did a performance at his constituency. He was the only one who personally showed interest in what we were doing," he said.

Gwindi said band members were trying to gain support from corporate citizens.

"And the band is in the process of putting itself more and more out there, in terms of the public eye and in terms of securing performances. We are looking at being able to perform in different configurations - a client can get a smaller version of Divine Echoes for functions if they wish," he said.

Divine Echoes would continue to record albums, he said.

Gwindi said band members would not lose their jobs, but continue to offer services to communities through music education.

"This will not be the end of Divine Echoes, we don't have corporate sponsors at this time as we are still under the Office of the Prime Minister, but we are embarking on making that possible as long as the contract is not renewed," he said.

Samuel responded that the Divine Echoes contract was being reviewed.

"A lot is being reviewed at this time and I am awaiting the final report. I did visit the band and I found that they have a lot of potential, but I cannot say what is taking place until it is reviewed," he said.

Newly appointed Minister of Multiculturalism, Dr Lincoln Douglas, said he was not aware that the contracts would not be renewed in August.

"I am now getting up to speed and I am not sure what is happening with (Divine Echoes). But I will look into it," he said.

More than $10 million was invested in the band since its launch at Queen's Hall, Port of Spain. Manning said then that Divine Echoes would not be a "government" band and while it would be initially funded, the orchestra would be "weaned" off State money.