Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:2 min 43 sec ago
Gizelle’s dad collects award...
Boogsie: Pan dead right now
Published: 1 Sep 2009
TOP: President George Maxwell Richards, left, presents the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Curtis Joseph, father of the late boxing champion, Gizelle Salandy. Gizelle died in a car crash on January 4.
ABOVE: Fashion designer, Heather Jones, left, shares a joke with former government minister, Dr Cuthbert Joseph, both recipients of the Chaconia Medal (Gold). Photos: ANTHONY HARRIS
Curtis Joseph, father of the late Jizelle Salandy, says he hopes the Order of T&T, which he received on behalf of the late boxing champion, would be used to inspire others, to aspire to national and international excellence. President George Maxwell Richards presented the award to Joseph shortly after 6 pm during the national independence awards ceremony at President’s House. Among those in attendance were Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Chief Justice Ivor Archie. In an interview with reporters, Joseph said the award, though a bit late, was appreciated by the family. “We feel happy generally. Jizelle is already dead, so we look forward to the future and hope that she would continue to live on, not only in people’s memories, but the lives of the youths.”
Joseph said he received the official invitation for the ceremony on Wednesday. He said if Jizelle were alive today she would encourage children to “study their school work, pray to God and always aspire to do their best.” In response to another question, Joseph said he was hopeful that in the future more appreciation should be given to national heroes while they were still alive. He called for more assistance to be given to aspiring boxers in the country. President Richards presented 17 other awardees with their medals, including musical director, Len Boogsie Sharpe, who received the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) for his contribution to the development of the steelpan in T&T. After expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Patrick Manning and others for the award, Sharpe was critical of steelpan body Pan Trinbago. He said he was not satisfied about where the steelpan had reached.
“Pan dead right now,” he added. To which Arnold expressed support, saying, “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” He told Arnold he should not feel offended by his claim. “No, no, no, no; I agree with you,” Arnold added. Sharpe then said there was need to make “a big change in pan.” He said, “Steelpan is a business. We need businessmen to run our organisation.” Again Arnold said, “You talking the right thing.” And housewife Daphne Baptiste, who also received a Hummingbird Medal (Gold) for gallantry, said she would defend herself against any armed criminal again, if necessary.
She was given the medal for overpowering an armed bandit in her home in Williamsville last month. She said all parents should “stand up for what is right “and do all they could to defend their children against criminals. She said the criminals in the country must be educated in an attempt to change their lives. President Richards described the recipients as “worthy citizens” who were rewarded for their “hard work and loyal service to the country.” Dr Geraldine Connor, ethnomusicologist, and Hugh Cyrus, who were awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold) and the Hummingbird Medal (Silver), were not presented with the medals, because they were absent.
Congratulations to all those
Congratulations to all those who received recognition at yesterday's Independence Awards Ceremony at the President's House.
Trinidad and Tobago is in desperate need of our very own heroes. The lady who fought off the criminal has indeed set an example for bravery. Boogsie, Alvin, Gizelle, Heather, Mr Maundy, Gupte and all the others have done us proud.
I hope that that those who are still able, continue to set an example for the youths of this nation. Its our only hope.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
Freedom of speech ,unbiased
Freedom of speech ,unbiased opinion and accurate reporting is what could advance this country's thinking.It is wonderful to see Boogsie could condemn with a positive intention.
From what I saw on TV , the presentation ceremony was OK. The anthem was handled crudely. Keyboards at loud volume do not give a dignified sound on ocassions where class is called for. Acapella,Piano, Steel pan or Stringed instruments would have been appropriate. The anthem really should not be added onto or overdone as is done in American football matches.
Tobago got no medals , probably because no one nominated anyone. However, I am sorry I did not make the effort to nominate the LaTour Sisters in the sphere of agriculture.They are good role models and would have deserved something.
As dead as a semp on the
As dead as a semp on the highway!
As long as we say is we own it and don't recognize that it is an instrument that we gave to the world to use and continue to claim that is only we could compose music for it, that is only jam and wine, calypso and classical music - which we can only play parts of or the melody because of the type of the instrument that pan is (a percussion instrument) and not compose serious music for the instrument, bring it into the realm of the traditonal orchestra as an instrument in its own right then it will stay dead.
Business and big business men will really kill it dead dead and when they have made enough money from it, then leave it to dry rot.
Has anyone heard Liam Teague play with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra? Would you believe that this performance is available on CD and it has never been played on a radio station in Trinidad & Tobago?
Not even Boogsie could match that performance, he right pan really dead!
Astley Merton
Astley Merton
which we can only play parts of or the melody because of the type of the instrument that pan is (a percussion instrument) and not compose serious music for the instrument
If I am not mistaken, there are people in Trinbago who compose 'serious' music specifically with the pan in mind, however, it would appear that one does not hear their names mentioned often.
As for
Has anyone heard Liam Teague play with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra? Would you believe that this performance is available on CD and it has never been played on a radio station in Trinidad & Tobago?
A 'prophet' is rarely appreciated in his/her own land. But hey. Just think what one could do with TT$2 billion plus dollars...
La Diva
Shareholder of Trinbago PLC
If there was freedom of
If there was freedom of speech the media would be asking how could these two win a National Award.
SURPRISE!!!! Well, it took
SURPRISE!!!! Well, it took Boogsie a long time to realise that pan dead in Trinbago. Moreso, it took him a longer time to conclude that pan is a business and therefore should be run by businessmen (and women). Unfortunately, pan will remain dead in Trinbago because the steelbands killed it and like it so.
Remember, every steelband in Trinbago is a member of Pantrinbago (else they cannot enter Panorama). As such, they have a seat on the various committees of Pantrinbago. As a result, it is their choice to elect a slate that will respond to their concerns. What are the steelbands' concerns? The facts show that they have many concerns, PANORAMA, PAN DOWN MEMORY LANE, PAN IN THE 21ST CENTURY,PAN IN THE COMMUNITY AND PAN IN THE HOLLOWS but not business.
The truth is that panmen like too much gallery. I wish they really believed that pan is a bunsiness. But, for the moment, pan will remain a cultural event totally subsidized ($$$$) by the government (PNM). The business of pan is happening in foreign countries where they know the difference between culture and art. In Trinbago we love culture but have not yet learned to appreciate the pan as art.
So Boogsie, already the business aspect of pan is being done by pan arrangers, composers tuners and soloists. it is they who are making the money. The steelbands are yet to get on board.
Hallelujah, well said! Blunt
Hallelujah, well said!
Blunt and exact. The only thing you did not say is that steelband is votes in elections, that is why we cannot appreciate pan as art and raise the intrument so that it can hold its place amongst the great instruments of the world!
All we do with it is say that it is we ting! Someone once made the point that pan in Trinidad will be the same in the 21st, 31st, 41st and 51st centuries unless we let it loose.
But watch out soon the Chinese and Japanese will be turning out music for the pan and pan prodigies that will shock all those who want to lock it up and say is we ting.