I asked Pan Trinbago this question in 2009. They responsed that it was more profitable to hold the semi finals the way it is at the moment. I cannot dispute their claim, because I do not have access to their books.
However, as one who do not reside in T&T, I cannot accept that, because most of the visitors at T&T's carnival are there for two weeks, which means that none of them will be in T&T for the Panorama semi finals. Maybe the date is mandated by the powers that be, so more visitors will come to T&T earlier and pump more money in the economy of T&T. Nah, I don't think so. Pan Trinbago should realize that the more people are in T&T on the date of the semis, the more people will come to the Savannah. I have no problem with Pan Trinbago asking all of us who take in the "free music" on the drag to donate something at a specific security point at the Savannah. No fences on the drag in 2011, would not that be nice!
No! No! do not ask about crime or who is accoutable for monies donated, let's think above that.
Comments
As I had commented back in 2009, The Steel Orchestras have to become proactive and not reactive. They have as much power as Pan Trinbago. 99% of the formats that Pan Trinbago hatches, must be approved by its members.
That's another of the negative effects of Panorama that nobody likes to talk about; what happens to the steelband and their fans after an early Panorama exit.
The life is for the most part sucked out of the panyard, and that's the end of any meaningful participation by that band for the rest of the Carnival.
It may not be too bad in the city where there are other top bands the fan can support, but for the smaller communities, the panyard "lime" is pretty much over until the next year.
Pan Trinbago should be working on a plan to have the bands more actively involved in the entire Carnival, not just Panorama, so that the fans could stay involved even if the band does not make it to the finals.
Unfortunately however, Panorama sucks so much of the band's energy, there is little left for any other activities.
It would be nice for visitors if more of the Panorama was concentrated in the two week period preceding Carnival, allowing them to take in more of the event, to get a better feel for the music, and a better understanding of the process that the bands and arrangers are going through to reach the finals.
However, I think I know how Pan Trinbago sees it.
Economics would probably affect local participation in the event, as many local fans may not be able to budget for multiple pan competitions in such a short period.
With all the other Carnival stuff going on, time would also be a factor.
So what you may gain with visitors, you lose from local participation.
I do not think this would be a positive development.
The only way this may work out, i.e. compressing the Panorama into two weeks, would be if Panorama was the only game in town.
That would be another argument in favor of separating the Panorama from the Carnival.