Newsday - Trinidad & Tobago
ADMISSION that Pan Trinbago adopts a liberal approach to interpreting its constitution so as to allow greater participation by steelband lovers, was made yesterday by Pan Trinbago’s general secretary, Richard Forteau.
Forteau was cross-examined by Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj who is representing a group of steelband members who have sued Pan Trinbago, for refusing their nominations to contest positions in elections for a new executive.
The elections were to be held on October 28. However, Keith Simpson, Denise Hernandez, Maurice Alexander and Steadson Jack, had filed nominations to contest positions, but were informed by Pan Trinbago that they were not named to be delegates by the respective steelbands they represented.
PANMEN: A victory sign is shown to the media by Keith Simpson, left, of St James Tripolians as he left the San Fernando Supreme Court yesterday. Others in photo are Vernon Morancie, centre, and former president of Pan Trinbago, Patrick Arnold.
Replies
I was not ah good swimmer but dat did not stop meh from going SLIPWAY, when yuh dive in the water and come up yuh see ah load sh-t right infront yuh face, dem days all the big ships used to flush the toilet in the water, ask yuh uncle and them. It"s all that wah make we big and strong. LMAO!
So ur closing the barn door after the horse has bolted? I hold no brief for the present admin. but something tells me that the new folks would not do any better.Do we know anything 'bout dem?
I am convinced now that the time is right for serious, educated, forward thinking people with the best interest of PAN in their hearts MUST run Pan Trinbago, and not the present bunch of JOKERS who dont know dey HEAD from dey FOOT.
As they say in America: Beverly bring ah KNIFE to a GUNFIGHT. What kinda ah NEW VISIONARY is that?
Diaz just chew allyuh up and spit allyuh out like ah plum seed!!!
Claude, the thing aint start yet, hold strain nah, hold strain. D Pres go get tangle in he own web.
But Bertel is hard to hold strain if you have the "best interest of the pan at heart" like you said. How long we go wait for Diaz to tangle in he own web when the man about to syphoon millions off the 2013 panorama and leave Pan Trinbago in a ditch? Yuh is Cecil brother or what?
Claude, I hear you and you are right. But sometimes yuh does have to wait until fools make ah BIG mistake to hang them high, and this is exactly what will take place, trust me on this one.
Is the Secretary of PanTrinbago interpreting the Constitution correctly? Should a third member from a steelband which is financial be rejected if he/she is nominated for any position on the Executive. Accordingto the Secretary, they should be, as only two delegates per band are allowed to take part in the election and only those two can be nominated for any position.
The Constitution clearly states that each band is allowed two members who can attend and vote in the election. Other members will have observer status. However, the issue is not about voting, the issue is about being nominated for office. Is the Secretary reading something new into the Constituion?
I do not believe that when the Constitution was drafted the intention was to limit the number of members from any steelband from being nominated and holding office. In such a case, talented members who are capable of making a positive contribution would be left out.
Nevertheless, it is in the court now, and the court decision will determine the outcome.