For the first time in 38 years, the Skiffle Bunch steelband will be entering the Panorama finals without a sponsor.
Skiffle, one of two San Fernando bands in the large band category, placed eighth in last Sunday's semi-finals, with a Ray Holman arrangement of Chucky's The Wedding.
The other, NCLB Fonclaire, which is hoping to bring home the Panorama title to the south with its Ken "Professor" Philmore arrangement of Anslem Douglas's Big in D Dance, placed ninth.
Skiffle's CEO Junia Regrello said there is a reluctance on the part of corporate T&T to sponsor steelbands, especially those from the south. He said companies are opting to partner with soca artistes and high-profile activities and events from which they can get maximum publicity.
Contractor Junior Sammy Ltd came on board with Skiffle in 2012 after financial woes crippled the band's longstanding partner Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) just before Panorama that year. Junior Sammy parted ways with the Coffee Street ensemble after the 2013 Panorama finals, where the band placed fifth.
However, Regrello said the band was going full speed ahead with a very positive outlook.
"I want to take the opportunity to thank Junior Sammy, who came on board to rescue us for Carnival 2012 and stayed on for a year. It was not a full sponsor, it was a contractor helping us to get back on our feet, and because of their contribution we were able to make it to the finals," Regrello said,
Regrello said since Sammy left they have been trying to woo other interested investors, without success.
"It is the first time in 38 years Skiffle is going into the Panorama without a sponsor. People have made small but tangible contributions, but to get to Queen's Park, we need 14 trucks to take up our equipment, PTSC buses to transport our 120 players. You are looking at anything near $100,000," Regrello said.
Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas has said $2.7 million will be made available to assist some 170 steelbands without sponsors.
Regrello pointed out that the scarcity of funds from the business community is hurting the artform. He said with the exception of a number of companies, what the steelbands get from the corporate world is basically good will.
"There is a lack of sponsorship and commitment from corporate bodies to San Fernando and south bands in general," Regrello said.
Because of financial challenges, several bands have reduced their size from large to medium and from medium to small.
He referred to Petrotrin and its sponsorship of several bands, including Deltones and Hatters and Phase II. Petrotrin president Khalid Hassanali said his company is providing full and partial sponsorship to about 20 different steelbands. He said they also provide support for the communities in which they operate.
"Hatters has gone down to medium, Deltones gone down to small. But on the other hand, one might ask why is Petrotrin still with Phase II and the answer is that Len Boogsie Sharpe is a kind of genius who guarantees success."
Noting the number of young players now occupying pride of place in the panyards, Regrello said companies have to weigh their input into youth and community development as opposed to marketing prospects.
Pan Trinbago: More sponsors, please
Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz agreed, pointing out, however, that steelbands get great support from a great number of businesses. At the moment, he said, the pan body is negotiating with several businesses for partnership.
"We are targeting those who have not yet come on board to partner with us. Sponsorship is a thing of the past. We want partnership with the steelbands, partnership with Pan Trinbago and partnership for youth development."
Diaz called for at least ten per cent of the revenue Carnival brings into the country annually to be reinvested in pan. He said with an ever-increasing crime rate there was advocacy for youths to get involved in the pan as an alternative to crime. Yet he said there was a disconnect as this could not be achieved without money.
"I saw a band from Morne Diablo, where the oldest youth in the band was 15 and the youngest five or six, playing in Panorama. I want to thank parents who allow their children to go out to the panyard. Long time, I used to get licks to go into the panyard. Today I am seeing so many of our young people gravitating to our panyard and I say it is a blessing for the pan movement."
He also commended the T&T Guardian for featuring the photographs of a number of the young players in the newspaper.
"I thank you for showcasing the young people playing the pan. They are buying out the Guardian. I heard one player whose picture was on the paper tell his mother, 'Mummy, you have to buy six Guardian.'"