By COREY CONNELLY Thursday, March 3 2011
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Persad-Bissessar went to Phase II as the last stop in her visit to five major pan yards, in and around Port-of-Spain, ahead of Saturday’s National Panorama finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by her husband Dr Gregory Bissessar and Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston “Gypsy” Peters also paid courtesy calls at Witco Desperadoes, Neal and Massy Trinidad All Stars, CAL Invaders and Sagicor Exodus in Tunapuna earlier in the night.
After exchanging greetings with prolific arranger Len Boogsie Sharpe and other band officials, Persad-Bissessar told a large crowd of Phase II supporters that the long-awaited steelpan headquarters will become a reality.
“In our last administration, I was the Minister of Legal Affairs and I had control of the Lands Registry and I was given that blessing to give to Pan Trinbago the lands for the pan headquarters. That was more than ten years ago,” she said.
“And up to today, no headquarters. And I have been saying, God don’t sleep. He only wearing pajamas.
“And so, we have been given the blessing again. And in the very first budget of this Government, which I have the honour to lead, we placed $7 million in the budget to begin the construction of your pan headquarters.”
Persad-Bissessar revealed that plans were also on stream to construct a pan factory to cement this country’s status as the home of the steelpan.
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