123 plus is off. Large bands will not be playing for any Pan Trinbago event as Photo’s cabal refused to meet with the regional executives.
By Aquil Arrindell
A letter was sent by the chairmen of the regions to meet with the central executive last Tuesday at the VIP lounge of the Queens Park Savannah. The agenda was as follows: Payment for 2018 Panorama; Payment of staff and 2018 elections. The chairmen took this initiative due to the failed attempts made by the central executive to resolve these issues. The chairmen’s rationale reasoned that if all of the 35 executive officers met, inclusive of Mr. Diaz and Photo’s five-man cabal, the rest of the executive’s officers would have acted as a buffer between the men who are at war with each other. Mr. Diaz welcomed the forum as a way forward, however, Photo’s crew refused to even meet with the regional officers.
Mr. Photo’s response to the request by the chairmen, alluded that the blame should go towards Mr. Diaz for Pan Trinbago’s present predicament, as Mr. Diaz is the one not attending central executive meetings. However, Mr. Diaz’ reasons for not having any lengthy meetings with the central executive officers is because of what he believes happens before these meetings. Mr. Diaz is claiming that photo’s team are meeting at an office on Dondonald Street by and with someone who continues to influence the organization’s business. Decisions are being made in that person’s best interests, and photo’s cabal then comes to Pan Trinbago’s meetings to follow through with these outside-influenced decisions. Because Diaz’s vote is one of seven, he is claiming that he can no longer defend the organization’s interests and assets against these men, at these official Pan Trinbago meetings. Therefore, having the 35 -member executive meeting could create an environment where the organization’s business could be discussed and voted on with a level playing field.
Whilst this stalemate continues between Diaz and Photo, the big bands had the first wave of protests this weekend. The 123Plus concert was put off. It was carded to take place this weekend gone. The big bands are refusing to play for anything that bears the brand Pan Trinbago. Through interviews, the CIP learned that two of the bandleaders confirmed the reason stated previously to be true. Mr. Gerard Mendez, also told the CIP, as the organizer of the event, though he understood the stance the bands are taking, he was disappointed. Mainly because this was a Pan Trinbago northern region event which had nothing to do with the central executive. In addition, it is known to the public and the pan fraternity that regional chairmen, minus the chairman from south, have been publicly fighting against the plight of the membership and the pan men. Due to this, he was not expecting bands to take this stance against the region’s event and was not in agreement that all must suffer because of the central executive’s crimes against its membership.
Pan month is quickly approaching and bands are now rejection their own organization. The Bands that were approached to play for 123 plus were Renegades, Desperados and Skiffle. It would be interesting to see if all bands will make this stance and also, if the large bands will hold this protest if necessary, until Panorama 2019.
Document of Concerned Individuals for Pan.
Replies
"It would be interesting to see if all bands will make this stance and also, if the large bands will hold this protest if necessary, until Panorama 2019."
Aquil: DOCTOR DOLLY WILL NEVER LET DEM PAN MEN STRIKE FOR PANORAMA!!!
Mr. claude, i told you to be careful not to mistake Aquil's view for CIP's views.
Bugs: Now yuh get the story straight from the horse's mouth!!!
But Forteau playing a nice POLITICAL GAME.
And where is THE MINISTER OF CULTURE while all this BACCHANAL is going on? At least AQUIL cannot blame her LACK OF EDUCATION for her LACK OF COMPETENCE -- like he did the current PAN TRINBAGO EXECUTIVE -- because she is one of the THREE MOST EDUCATED POLITICIANS in Trinidad since 1956 when the "LOCALS" took over!!!
So maybe THE PROBLEM is a LITTLE MORE COMPLEX than THE CIP could envision!!!