... after they cross the Atlantic ONCE and start developing the cultural hunger so common to EXPATS from all countries around the world. So doh bother me now with all the LOVE FOR CULTURE and SENTIMENTALITY.
Bertel Gittens and Oswald Alexander and Allima Garcia and Gerard Clarke and Gavin Adams -- sitting down in Trinidad waiting for Cecil Hinkson and Rudy Kendall and odw and the new Nancy to come back home and SHOW THE LOVE FOR THE PAN.
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Mighty Chalkdust - From Naipaul to Shame
the slave mentality exist even today,we continue to blame everyone but ourselves. When the pan man was ask to play at various corners on Frederick street for kiddies carnival in the sixties they refuse and the DJ's filled the gap and there begins the story as we have it today. Go on the drag for panorama and see 90% of the limers over sixty Chalkie, Merchant V.S Naipaul, Terrence Farrell. How many of you listened to Terrence Farrell
Claude, yuh a entangle mi inna next argument after mi done mek it plain that as a family man, mi youths dem come first! yuh nuh easy atall!
Cecil Hinkston a seh di same ting.
But don't get mi wrong, as pan ambassadors is a natural ting to be abroad in desolate places like the concrete jungles of north america and europe while spreading the pan gospel!
one fine day, Almighty God willing, I shall return!
Anyways, Trinidad ain't change...
Your comment lacks depth , Claude because most of the ex-pats on the forum , as far as I know were participants in the culture before leaving T&T.
Myself , for expample got a lot of mosquito bites in panyards in T&T , and after I left Trini and joined the US Army, I took a vacation and returned to Trini to beat pan in Panorama and on the road with WASA Silvertones of Sando.
There are certainly people who learned to appreciate their country and culture after leaving , but you probably won't find them contributing to this forum.
As far as I can tell , most of us were deeply involved in the culture before leaving.
I , for example was the founding member of a combo in Marabella ( Silhouettes Combo ) a member of a dance band ( the Louis Brice Orchestra , a supporter of Southern Marines of Marabella , and a member of Scarlet Symphony of Marabella ( tenor bass) and Silvertones of Sando ( tenor bass , cellos ),
And , pan was sweet to me since the early 1950s , when we lived on Broadway in Sando ( Independence Ave.) and I discovered Broadway Hatters , a band that formed not too far from where I lived.
So , like most of the ex-pats who contribute to this forum , I'm no "Johnny come lately" to Trini culture , and I feel entitled to express my opinions on the direction and progress of that culture..
Claude my brother, this may not be the response you want to hear, when you decide to go I’ll follow. I'm sure it's not just Culture lovers who want to return to do something for Pan, smart people know better. If you have the time, take a listen to Terrence Farrell.
In this funny and insightful talk, Terrence Farrell draws on his work as an economist to describe some of the culturally historic reasons Trinidad and Tobago has failed to capitalize on its economic wealth. Terrence leaves the audience with much to think about.
Culture and economic underachievement in Trinidad and Tobago | Terrence Farrell |