President of Pan Trinbago Keith Diaz says the organisation may need to create a bigger space for the Greens section for the 2015 Panorama semifinals event.He said that after announcing that this year saw the largest turnout ever for the country's biggest steelband competition.Diaz said the final decision would be made after discussions with the executive of Pan Trinbago. The discussions were expected to begin yesterday.
He was speaking to the media after a cheque handing-over ceremony yesterday at the Ministry of Arts, Nicholas Towers, Independence Square, Port-of-Spain.At the ceremony Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Lincoln Douglas formally handed over cheques of either $10,000 or $20,000 to seven of over 178 unsponsored small and medium steelbands.The cheque amounts depended on the size of the steelband.This is the third year the ministry has given financial assistance to unsponsored steelbands.
Douglas said every year the corporate sponsorship for steelbands decrease.Diaz, who also said their was a lack of willingness from corporations to sponsor steelbands, said Pan Trinbago supported steelbands through money raised from the Greens."We were told by the ministry that we needed to try to find ways to generate funds."This year had the largest crowd for Panorama semis and we will continue to try to make it happen," he added.Diaz said the Greens was one of the more innovative ideas in T&T Carnival.
"Simple people thought about it. We created a new thing and a new space to get young people to come to the pan," he added.Diaz said part of the profits made from the Greens were given to the 82 steelbands who participated in the semifinals of the competition.He said people may not see the benefits now but Pan Trinbago's vision was to develop the steelpan and pan players.Asked if the controversial Pan Splash pool would be back for next year's semifinals, Diaz said it would have to be discussed.