Government to help ailing BertieThursday, June 21 2012
AN AILING steelpan innovator Bertie Marshall is hoping that promises made by the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism and the Ministry of the People will come to fruition.
This after Arts Minister Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters, Minister of the People Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh and Minister in the Ministry of Community Development Lincoln Douglas, yesterday visited Marshall at his Harpe Place, Port-of-Spain apartment home.
Marshall, 76, whose children live abroad and who lives by himself lamented that he has never received an old age pension, National Insurance grants and salaries owed to him as a pan tuner as part of the Fine Tuning Programme in the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). Marshall is also concerned that although he is up-to-date on his rent, he received a letter from the Housing Development Company (HDC) that he is due for eviction because of a lapse in payments. Marshall said his only source of income is a stipend of $2,000 given by Pan Trinbago Peters, who listened to Marshall’s complaints, promised to see to it that Marshall’s needs are met to the best of his (Peters) ability.
“As long as I remain Minister I will make sure that the needs of Bertie are taken care of as far as we can. Bertie should not be living like this.
We are going to help him deal with all the social problems that he has. A person like Bertie, who has given so much to the nation through pan should not be renting in his old age. So through our cultural programmes we will take some of the burdens off his shoulders,” Peters added.
Peters called on other bodies including the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Association (TUCO) and Pan Trinbago to implement a Benevolent Fund so that Marshall and those of his ilk could be assisted in their time of need.
Replies
Allyuh see they replace Gypsy, the new Minister is Dr Lincoln Douglas, ah only hope he like pan.
We are always quick to get on Gypsy case when he don't do the right thing, here we have Gypsy and others doing the right thing for Bertie Marshall and everybody quiet. Come on pan people the Minister and his colleagues did good we should let them know.
You are barking up the wrong tree, Cecil: This is a PNM forum!!!
Claude yuh like trouble, but right is right.
Royce, It would be nice if Mr Peters could pay a visit to Tony Williams too, just to make sure everything is alright. These men devoted their lives to our national instrument, it is only fitting that the Government make sure that they live out the rest of their lives in comfort.
Mr Peters this is the BEST decision you have made as a Minister.