I read in one of the daily newspapers on Thursday where it was stated that Pan Trinbago has organised a "fun area" for children at the National Junior Panorama Finals which will be held on Sunday. The cost for this "fun" area is $60 and it is all inclusive (whatever that means). The admission to the stands and other areas is free according to the diary of events put out by Pan Trinbago.
I hope that the Ministry of Education, which is partnering with Pan Trinbago to stage this show, will put an immediate stop to this "all inclusive" fun area for the following reasons:
�2 who will supervise these children?
�2 why is Pan Trinbago trying to make a "greens" atmosphere like the adult Panorama at this event when they should be encouraging the children to attend the Panorama, sit, listen and support their schools and other schools and understand the culture of pan.
Isn't Pan Trinbago the pan body that repeatedly said that in many countries throughout the world, there are pans in many schools and that T&T should strive to do the same?
I would like a representative from Pan Trinbago to say whether in these different countries, that if a Junior Panorama or pan concert is organised do they think that the co-ordinators would place a "fun area" with bouncy castle et al for children to play while their pan concert is in progress?
Pan Trinbago (and likewise the Ministry of Education) should inspire parents to attend this show with their children and other family members and encourage them to sit and listen to our national instrument played by children their own age and not send these children off to a "fun area" with what kind of supervision?
Why is it that we cannot train our children to concentrate on the subject at hand? There are so many children and likewise adults who say that they cannot stand the sound of a pan or they only listen to pan at Panorama time.
How can we get our children to appreciate our national instrument with its unique sound; the expertise of the arrangers; the skill and dexterity of the players, when the governing body of pan wants to divert the attention of the children's Panorama by placing other attractions in the midst of our cultural extravaganza.
Pan Trinbago, you can find alternate ways to raise funds if that's the case, but please leave our children to appreciate our national instrument through our Junior Panorama.
Jeanette Johnson,
Administrator/Music Teacher,
Arima