Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:15 hours 21 min ago
No G-pans for champion band
Published: 20 Nov 2009
Kurt Edwards, second left, of Sagicor Exodus, shakes hands with Dr Brian Copeland of Panadigm Innovations Ltd, on receipt of the band’s G-Pan instruments. At left is Keith Diaz, president of Pan Trinbago, and looking on is Junia Regrello, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs. Photos: SEAN NERO
Reigning National Panorama champion Silver Stars Steel Orchestra has been left out of Government’s award of Genesis-Pans (G-Pans) to top five conventional steel orchestras, but TCL Group Skiffle Bunch, which did not secure a place in this year’s competition, is in receipt of the instrument, the Guardian has learnt. Junia Regrello, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, confirmed last week that his band, Skiffle Bunch, had the G-Pan. He said the band already has one G-bass, but his pannists are overwhelmed over the band’s acquisition of two G-bass and two double-seconds. Panadigm Innovations Ltd and the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs presented instruments to Witco Desperadoes, BP Renegades, Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars, Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove and Sagicor Exodus, as part of a Beta Test Programme at the Calypso Room, Crowne Plaza Hotel, located on Wrightson Road in Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday. Participating bands will work with Panadigm Innovations and report on the integration of G-Pans into the traditional family of instruments under their respective banners.
No exception was made for the reigning champ Silver Stars, although it is customary for the victor be to be included in all major events during its reign, Regrello recalled. “Skiffle Bunch was the first guinea pig in this project. The G-Pans were stored in Skiffle Bunch and taken to tuner Bertram Kelman, when he was available to work on them,” he said. Contacted, Edwin Pouchet, leader of Silver Stars, declined comment. Conscious that the selection of bands for this experiment would spark controversy, Dr Brian Copeland of Panadigm cleared the air. He said he developed a scientific formula that ranked orchestras that captured the top three spots in the history of Panorama the most. The information, obtained from Pan Trinbago’s Web site, gave Desperadoes the edge as group leader with 22 points, while Renegades and Exodus tied in fourth with 15 marks.
Regrello said: “We had a limited number of instruments and we are in a rush to do testing ahead of receiving the patent. “The bands that got are not cast in stone and over time more will be included.” Pan Trinbago secretary Richard Forteau confirmed Pan Trinbago’s knowledge that Skiffle Bunch was furnished with G-Pans long before Tuesday’s presentation. “Someone saw the commotion when G-Pans were being delivered to Skiffle Bunch’s panyard some time ago, and called us at Pan Trinbago. But we can’t tell Panadigm who to give the instruments to for testing. “They have given it to five top bands. We are now in the process to work out a system for smaller bands to receive instruments. Not only big bands have relevance in this exercise,” he said. Forteau added that Prime Minister Patrick Manning had indicated some time ago that he (Manning) would give pans to Skiffle Bunch, since Regrello was a major part of the G-Pan project, even before he became a PNM Member of Parliament and ultimately Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.
Renegades pannist Andrew Charles performs with members of the National Steel Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jessel Murray.
INEQUALITY! WHY NOT GIVE ALL
INEQUALITY! WHY NOT GIVE ALL THE PANORAMA WINNERS OVER THE YEARS A SET OF G-PANS? THAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO. TO CONTINUE THE DISTRIBUTION, EVERY YEAR, THE WINNING PANORAMA STEELBAND SHOULD SHOULD RECEIVE A SET OF G-PANS. Why create further inequality for the steelbands?
dingolay INEQUALITY! WHY NOT
dingolay
INEQUALITY! WHY NOT GIVE ALL THE PANORAMA WINNERS OVER THE YEARS A SET OF G-PANS? THAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO. TO CONTINUE THE DISTRIBUTION, EVERY YEAR, THE WINNING PANORAMA STEELBAND SHOULD SHOULD RECEIVE A SET OF G-PANS. Why create further inequality for the steelbands?
If my English comprehension classes of yesteryear have stood the test of time, my reading of the article suggests this event/action was to provide the G-Pan for testing purposes ie. the G-Pan is still in prototype phase. Perhaps after the testing is completed, the patent secure and the G-Pan is in 'mass production', then the powers that be may decide to do precisely as you suggest - give every Panorama winner a set of the G-Pans.
Does it make sense for TCL Skiffle Bunch to receive a set, even through it did not figure amongst the top five? As the article indicates, MP Regrello and TCL Skiffle Bunch have been quite involved with the development of the G-Pan and therefore, it only makes sense they are involved with the testing of the prototype. Telling a major contributor in the design of a product that he/she cannot have a prototype for testing purposes is... well... a slap in the face with a 10 day old fish.
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
I love to knit-pick. Why
I love to knit-pick. Why should Skiffle-Bunch recieve a set of the G-pans? One of the oldest bands in South Trinidad is Southern Marines, why is it that Skiffle Bunch a relative new big band that jumped from Pan-round-the-Neck to conventional a few years ago recieving a set of pans as opposed to HATTERS the last band in South to win Panorama?
Come on people where is the fairness, we in south did not appoint Mr Regrello to take part in the development of the G-Pan, he is doing so because he is supposed to be a dedicated pan-man, and he is doing that for the love of that, or is he? Is it just to put SKIFFLE on the map?
People in San'Do do not cry Skiffle Skiffle the shout "Fonclair Fonclair" they scream "Hatters Hatters".
Make Sense let us make sense.
Anything to do with Pan People has a sick twist and fairness is not a part of that nor is it encouraged to be part of it, and mainly people on the outside are vigilant in causing major descent within the pan fratirnity.
La diva, it makes no sense
La diva, it makes no sense to be giving out G-Pans to any steelband or panist. But, this is Trinbago and they do things upside down. My point is that the best way to serve the steelband fraternityis to award G-Pans to the winners of Panorama. But,that will never happen because that is not hwo they do things in Trinbago. Nuff said!
But dingolay
But dingolay
My point is that the best way to serve the steelband fraternity is to award G-Pans to the winners of Panorama.
It may be a question of semantics, but my reading of the article is that the G-Pans were not 'awarded' to the top five bands as determined by Professor Copeland. They were given/provided or perhaps even lent, for testing purposes. In my 'book' awarding and testing are two different things. That the words "test" and "patent" were used in the article (am assuming the journalist was accurate in their writing/quoting) tells me the product/G-Pan is still in prototype phase. Are you suggesting that all the winners of Panorama are given the prototype and be part of the testing phase?
Dinah... what ever MP Regrello's reasons/motives are, it seems he was there and involved in the development of the G-Pan from the outset. If his name was Mr Smith, who had helped developed the concept, by rights he (and his organisation) ought to receive one of the prototypes too, irrespective of whether or not the "Prime Minister has spoken". But, in the interest of edification, why don't you pose the question to MP Regrello anonymously and let us know the answer?
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
La diva, I am talking about
La diva, I am talking about the future. You are right about htis testing ting. But, they should be planning for the future. if the G-Pan is the future then all steelbands should remake their orchestra with G-Pans. remember, it is tax payers money that they used since Mr. Manning gave them $3 million dollars to finish the product. And that is tax payers money. The G-Pan is a people's instrument. It is a terrible sifght to see hwo some steelbands pans look for Panorama.
I heard the G-Pan and I like its tone. I have the national steel symphony playing classic with G-Pan instruments and it sounds like heaven. But, I don't know if steelbands can afford to buy them, especially the non-sponsored steelbands. Fort my part, only the large steelbands should be equipped with G-Pans because it is the large steelbands that are considered Panorama competitiors. The other categories like small and medium is like a lagnaippe for bands that could not make the 100 cut. Large steelbands is the Panorama.
Ah, okay dingolay
Ah, okay dingolay
La diva, I am talking about the future. You are right about htis testing ting.
Whew! Glad to see we are on the same page then. (smile)
But, they should be planning for the future.
Perhaps they are? Perhaps they just want to get over the testing phase and get the patent finalised? Perhaps they are planning for the future, based on your suggestion? (I would like to think that Ministers Imbert and Browne are not the only ones who 'catch wind' of the comments here!) Oh, and yes, I am fully aware that "Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps" is a line in a song. (^_~)
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
What a ridiculous statement
What a ridiculous statement to make "The large bands are PANORAMA" on that statement alone we can evaluate thae way you view Panorama.
You go to listen to your band and when they are finished you leave.
Shock yourself one year and go amd listen to those other band which you dismiss as some sort of colaterall damage in the wake of the big bands on the the field of panorama. Start with the prelims and then the semi without missing one band
That statement alone explains the state of the competition and the unfairness and cheating that goes on. Disrespect is rampant in this Trinbago and you have just done that to all the hard work of youth who spend night after night in a panyard, so that the likes of you can dismiss them as nothing on a blog
Dinah, you cannot make that
Dinah, you cannot make that statement unless you macoh me for carnival. Ask any panjumbie and she well tell you that Panorama is the large steelbands. The medium and small is there because many steelbands cannot make the 100 panists that is required to enter the large bands category. But, you only have one Panorama winner and that comes from large steelbands. Dinah, perhaps you can tell me when last a small or medium steelband won the PANORAMA. I am waiting.
But, my main point is that you cannot select some steelbands to give a new instrument when steelbands are in a competition. That will only breed comess. While I understand thatthis is a test run, I hope that the government willbe fair and give every steelband a new set of G-Pans. Gosh, have you seen some steelbands' pans lately?
Now Dinah, here is the real question. Will the Steelband Music Festival next year be held in the National (Beryl McBurnie) Academy for the Performing Arts?