STEVEN   ACHAIBA
DATE OF BIRTH: July 18, 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH: San Fernando, Trinidad
EDUCATION: St. Paul's Anglican School
STEELBANDS:
  • Tropical Heartbeats (1955-56)
  • Hatters (1958)
  • Rogues Regiment (1959)
  • Cavaliers (1963-67)
  • Hatters (1968 - 1977)
  • South Stars (1980s)
  • Invaders (1985-86)
    • SPECIALTIES:
  • Player
  • Arranger
    • CAREER:                                        Achaiba began arranging for the Hatters Steelband in San Fernando in 1968, became the band's captain in 1970, and led it to its only Panorama victory in 1975. Under his leadership, the band recorded three LPs in 1975. He later arranged for South Stars and Invaders in the 1980s. He is also credited with starting the Naparima Girls' School Steel Orchestra in 1975 which he led to the Junior Panorama championship in 1980, thereby making the school the first all-girls steelband to accomplish this feat. The following is a summary of Achaiba's success in the steelband Panorama competition:

    Hatters

    • 1974 - "20 to 1" (Lord Kitchener), 2nd,
    • 1975 - "Tribute to Spree Simon" (Lord Kitchener), 1st
    • 1976 - "Coming Home for Carnival" (Lord Kitchener), 2nd

    South Stars

    • 1981 - "Leh We Jump" (Singing Francine), 3rd
    DIED: July 18, 2018, in Trinidad
    Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit