Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 37 min ago
Battling for presidency at Pan Trinbago elections
Published: 23 Oct 2009
Barring any legal entanglements, Pan Trinbago executive elections will take place on Sunday, October 25, at the The Auditorium, East Mucurapo Secondary School, 1 Mucurapo Road, Mucurapo. All posts are up for grabs. The main event is the battle for the presidency, which involves two heavyweights, incumbent Patrick Arnold and challenger Keith (Bald Head) Diaz. The battle for other posts is also interesting, but does not create as much excitement as that for the presidency. Today, the Buzz gives you briefly, insights into both men’s achievements, to do otherwise to publish a book. At the weigh-in, Diaz looked the heavier of the two, despite a rigorous campaign; Arnold looked calm.
Arnold punches hard
Tobago-born Arnold has been in the saddle for 13 years. He attended Scarborough RC School, St Mary’s College and the University of Toronto, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (sociology) in 1971. Arnold’s association with the steelband goes back almost six decades; as player, tuner, founder (Our Boys Steel Orchestra) and administrator. Among his many achievements are:
Increasing Panorama first prize money from $37,000 to $1M.
Instituting a $1,000 stipend for panmen.
Implementation of a constitution by which Pan Trinbago should be governed.
Organising Caribbean Panorama (Grenada); Caribbean Junior Festival (Antigua); and, World Steelband Music Festival (Madison Square Garden, New York.)
Implementing Panyard Sensations; Pan Parang; Republic Pan Fiesta Competition, Pan Kaiso Competition, Champs in the 20th Century; Kings Hold Court.
Formation of Panvesco, T&T Pan Works Ltd and Pan Trinbago Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society and establishing the National Youth Steel Orchestra.
Diaz, the UFO
He’s called the UFO, because he has been sighted all over T&T, the latest sighting being Sangre Grande. You name the place, Keith (Bald Head) Diaz has been there on the ground talking to pan people. Chairman of the most vibrant region in Pan Trinbago (Northern), Diaz is vying for the Presidency with many feathers in his cap. A former student of Tranquillity Secondary School, Diaz has done many courses, in management (business and financial) and communications, at Cipriani Labour College, Valsayn. The affable Diaz has been in pan some 40 years, 25 of which have been spent serving the steelband movement in several capacities. Diaz lists among his many achievements:
Pan in the 21st Century competition.
Monday night pan competition.
Pan Sunday series, Start d Pan and Dancing with pan.
Co-founder of Pan Trinbago’s New York chapter.
External Relations Officer of Pan Trinbago (1998-1990).
Producer of a three-part pan documentary series.
Host of the steelband radio programmes, Times for Radio I95.5FM, as well as Radio Toco programme, Steel In the Show.
Worked on five-part series on CCN TV6—Pan Is Meh Jumbie.
Established steelband Exhibition for Carifesta 1966 at Jean Pierre Complex.
Manager of Starlift.
PRO of Witco Desperadoes.
Mayhem on the Magic
I am blue vex with my friend and host of The Magic of Pan Eddie yearwood.
Eddie allowed mayhem on his programme in a round-table discussion (if you could call it that) which included Peter Aleong and Nestor Sullivan. They hogged the spotlight. Both men sounded bitter and venomous as they waded into Pan Trinbago, taken up with the sound of their own voices. If you listen to them, it would seem that Pan Trinbago has done nothing of worth. I did not like how the noble PRO of Pan Trinbago Michael (Scobie) Joseph was attacked, and the moderator, Eddie Yearwood, did nothing to protect him. What should have been an entertaining programme turned out to be both men emptying their guts with half-baked ideas. Both men exemplified the statement: talk is cheap! Until next week, keep loving up the pan.
DEAR PANTRINBAGO AND
DEAR PANTRINBAGO AND STEELBANDS.
I wish that Pantrinbago would have shown some respect to panjumbies and publish an agenda of the candidates for executive positions at Sunday's elections. What can panjumbies expect from the candidates? Since all the offices are important in the running of Pantrinbago, I wished that Panbuzz had published the achievements of the other contenders.
On October 25, 2009, steelbands wil get their chance to express their disagreements with the present leadership by voting for the candidates who will advance their agenda, if they have an agenda. Steelbands will have an opportunity to show that they are serious about their art form and the organization that represents them. Steelbands will be able to implement changes that they see fit by voting for the candidates who will advance their interests. The outcome of the elections will determine the next three years of the steelband movement. Remember, steelbands will be celebrating the 50TH ANNIVERSARY PANORAMA in 2013.
Whatever the outcome of the elections, panjumbies demand transparency by the new executive board. Since the beginning of Panorama in 1963, the government via taxpayers funds has subsidized Panorama and other steelband activities. When the prime minister declared that the steelpan is the national instrument of Trinbago the subsidies increased. It makes sense for the government to subsidize the steelband movement (panorama is the country’s number one carnival brand and pan is the national instrument). But, total funding by government comes with political certain realities and limitations. One reality is that the public demands a transparent and public account of the funds that pantrinbago receives.
The three main documents that govern Pantrinbago are: Constitution, Bylaws and Strategic Plan for Pan. If we read the three documents and based on the organization’s objectives, we will find that the steelbands may be getting exactly what Pantrinbago promised. Article 4 of its constitution, governs the organization’s objectives for the steelbands. It is a barometer for steelbands and panjumbies to measure whether Pantrinbago is fulfilling its mandate with the steelbands. The achievable objectives of Pantrinbago are:
1. Protection of the Steelbands Legacy.
2. Promotion the playing of steelpan and steelband music.
3. Initiate, stimulate and improve programmes for steelbands.
4. Promote, support and develop audiences for steelband musicians.
Steelbands may agree that Pantrinbago fulfilled its objective of protecting the steelbands’ legacy. Steelbands may agree that Pantrinbago initiates, stimulates and improve programmes for steelbands with events like: Pan down memory lane; Pan in the 21st century; Pan in the communities; Panjazz, Panyard Sensations, Steelband Music Festival and the national festival, Panorama. Steelbands agree that performance of steelpan and steelband music has been accomplished. Steelbands may agree that the steelband movement is in good hands i.e. Pantrinbago.
One of the items I would like to see the new administration addreess is the removal of the canopies that steelbands use for the Panorama finals competition. The canopies are anachronistic and cumbersome to the display of the steel orchestras. It is just bad aesthetics in the 21st century. Some steelbands may claim that the canopies enhance the sound of the band on stage. Other steelbands may claim that the canopy protects the steelband from the elements. A few steelbands may see the canopy as tradition and believe that the bands should keep it.
The only steelband so far that has seen the light and disagreed with the current steelband model is Exodus Steel Orchestra. In the 90s, Renegades removed their canopies but only for one Panorama night. According to Jit Samarroo, ‘The panmen did not like it and they blame the removal for their loss that night.’ Exodus removed the canopies from the orchestra for Panorama 2008 and 2009 because they found that the canopies lacked aesthetics. They even came on the road without canopies. Some of the steelbands look like shanty towns pereforming at the national festival. It is almost impossible to see many of the panists.
In this new era of the internet, aesthetics matters on TV, DVD and the Internet. While canopies may be part of the steelband tradition of the 60s it is time to remove them. It was Bertie Marshall who introduced canopies to cover the pans for his steelband Hilanders to protect the pans from the burning carnival sun. There is no sun on Panorama night.
It is time for steelbands to reconsider the model they use to present their orchestras on the Panorama stage, including the use of canopies for Panorama. Pantrinbago should get together with steelbands and come up with a new Panorama model for the 21st century. If steelbands agree that Panorama is their number one brand it would make sense that they should want to improve their number one brand.
Steelbnads should pay attention to Panorama 2008 and 2009 where a cow-shed was put up in the savannah to hold Panorama. It is a disgrace to steelbands. When will the government finish the carnival center? Recently, Mr. Patrick Arnold said, ‘Since they broke down the Grand Stand, they have virtually no place to go. We were to get back the savannah for 2009. But it’s not even started.’ Where are the steelbands protest? Their silence may suggest that they agree that the cow-shed venue is temporary and they will soon be in the new carnival center.
Steelbands must start looking at a new Panorama model for the new carnival center with these components in mind:
1. The Stage
2. The Orchestra
3. Acoustics
The stage is the first battle of defense for the steelbands. Are steelbands asking: What type of stage would be built for the steelbands in the new carnival center? Would the stage be revolving to accommodate all the steelbands so that one band can exit the stage within a few minutes while the next steelband is entering the stage? We have seen in the past how long it takes each steelband to get on stage making the Panorama run till late in the morning. Will the stage be indoors or outdoors? Will there be a North Stand to accommodate the traditional panjumbies? Why not build a dome in the new center to provide acoustics for all the steelbands?
Are the steelbands getting proper coverage on stage so that the world sees a modern steel orchestra performing at its national festival? Today, the international pan community views and listens to Panorama via the internet. If the steelbands are to find a place in this new carnival center, then they must address the question of acoustics. Steelbands must ensure that the new carnival center have great acoustics. Once the acoustics are in place there is no need to use canopies.
Finally, I would like to see Pantrinbago pay more sattention to Panorama DVDs and CDs production and the internet. The color of the Panorama DVD is supreme. But, the production lacks the attraction to widen the audience. The cameras fail to locate the orchestra and the panists so that the viewers can see both at all times. There is a lack of proper lighting which makes the background of some orchestras too dark. The camera stays too focused on the front of the orchestra while the instruments in the background are ignored. Surely, with today’s technology the camera can capture the whole orchestra as well as the panists.
The supreme age of the steelbands is over in Trinbago. The steelbands reached their plateau in the 20th century in Trinbago, the home of the national instrument. There is nothing more for steelbands to achieve in Trinbago. The 21st century has not yet produced anything new in the steelband movement. There may be more steelband events throughout Trinbago outside the carnival season. Still, the various steelbands in Trinbago are stagnated and refuse to be innovative. The golden age of the steelband movement was completed in the late 20th century in the 1960s. Pantrinbagop and steelbands must work for a new golden age for the steelband movement.
Pantrinbago and steelbands must modernize Panorama. Pantrinbago should hire a stage producer for Panorama. The end of the 20th century saw the disappearance of pan from the road for carnival, the displacement of the Grand Stand and North Stand forums for the Panorama and no proper headquarters for Pantrinbago. Pantrinbago and steelbands must bring back pan on the road for carnival.
The future of the steelband movement lies with the steelpan instrument. It is the soprano pan that will make the break through that panjumbies yearn for. Panorama and other local steelband events are cultural activities. They will continue to dominate the Trinbago landscape.
The soprano pan is art on the move. Soon, classical orchestras will engage the soprano pan as a part of their orchestra. We may soon see orchestras like New York Philharmonic, Boston Pops, Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras inviting panists to join their orchestras. Ambitious local panists must study music because the panist would have to know musical theory to join the orchestra in order to play the scores. All young panists should study music.
As non-Trinbagonians master the soprano pan, their knowledge of music will give them an edge on the locals who refuse to learn the language of their art, music. Of course, steelbands will remain a local legacy. Trinbago will always control Panorama and other local steelband events. The international community is not interested in Panorama, except in countries with Trinbagonians. The international community is interested in the soprano pan and has already welcomed it as its own like it has welcomed every other instrument.
Today, the soprano pan is the most advanced since the instrument was created in the late 1940s. We have to give thanks to Ellie Mannette, the father of the modern steelpan. Mr. Mannette gave the steelpan its voice with his master tuning. The 21st century is the century of the steelpan.
The challenge for steelbands and Pantrinbago, now that the steelpan has become an international instrument, is for steelbands to develop a repertoire for their instrument and Pantrinbago to make Panorama an international showpiece for steelbands at THE GEORGE GODDARD STEELBAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
Pan Need Direction. Dingolay
Pan Need Direction. Dingolay you made a great effort trying to move pan forward but you left out one of the most important issues that should be addressed. That is , tractor, truck, etc pulling pan all over the road carnival Monday morning and one can't even hear the music. Its all mixed up with the tractor engine, or truck engine. This is the most turn off on carnival day. Next thing, they have the pan soooooo high up on the trailer, everything is all lost. Total failure by all in the pan fraternity.Its not the same steelband the supporters saw on panorama night. Two weeks before panorama the supporters patronize the steelbands buying t shirts, beer, etc at the panyards and what do they get in return. A fraction of the band on the road. This needs to be straighten out first in order to bring pan back on the road. My take on this, make it a rule to take pan off truck and put them back on the road. Eliminate anything that pulls the pan with combustion engines. Pushing pan is much better. Bring out the full steelband on carnival Monday, why are they hiding their steelbands? If you go back to the CDC(carnival development committee) long ago, they had a much better organization for the panorama competition. They should use the same format today. Please eliminate the medium and small band categories. This creates a waterdown competition. Let arrangers and others in their respective bands compete with the best always. Let all compete together.Many medium size bands can beat some of the large bands today. What needs to be done here is to reward the last place band on panorama night with a decent sum of money. The rest will obviously get a much better reward. Let arrangers arrange for at least four bands during the panorama season. Dingolay the questions you asked are good but Trinis settle for mediocrity daily so may not seem important for the President of Pantrinbago and others.
Patrick in the USA