Revisited - Breaking News -- Bands Boycott Grenada Panorama - Stage not ready for prime time - Forum

St. George's, Grenada, W.I. - As a result of the lack of a proper stage, the Grenada steel orchestras have just voted to boycott the 2017 Panorama at an emergency meeting.

This - as the Panorama itself was scheduled and advertised to get underway earlier this evening at 7:00 p.m. EST - two and a half hours ago. So, at showtime, the bands REFUSED to mount, and perform on, a stage that was incomplete and not ready for the steel orchestras.

"Stage" at Panorama competition time (Grenada National Stadium); image by R. Cadet

In the "Chat room" associated with the Pay-Per-View for the event, viewers were incensed at this totally unexpected turn of events. Reportedly - though not confirmed officially - refunds are supposed to be processed.

Tonight's occurrence of an inadequate stage for performing, follows the pattern of disrespect meted out to the Grenadian pan musicians. Reports further state that there were NO LIGHTS or SOUND SYSTEM in place, and the Judges' seating area was also incomplete.

Last year, 2016, the winners were physically shoved off the stage when they tried to come on and celebrate which is the tradition.

Additionally, there was no presentation of the 2016 Panorama trophy, or any acknowledgement following the so-called announcement of results. Instead, the preparation by Event organizers, were underway for the apparently more-favored music event that was to follow the Panorama, and equipment already set up on the stage.

So - the disrespect for the steelband art form continues...

Replies

odw August 14, 2017 at 8:51pm

Sparrow - A one calypsonian strike!. Carnival Queen receives a car and other winners just "2 case of beer". Sparrow suggests in future that the Queen should run the show without steelband and calypso. He at least would be "keeping his calypsoes on the shelf".

Mighty Sparrow Calypso - *Carnival Boycott*
Cecil hinkson August 14, 2017 at 9:38am

The Organizers of this show not ready for prime time, no one came to help them?
- merrytonestothebone > Cecil hinkson August 14, 2017 at 10:06am
  
  I fail to understand the comparison with Trinidad...
Cecil hinkson August 13, 2017 at 7:01pm

patrick ramdoo under the same circumstances the result will be the same in T&T
- Mercer Ramdoo > Cecil hinkson August 13, 2017 at 11:32pm
  
  So yuh think that trinis would boycott the biggest show in town during carnival season? Nah, not dem trinis. We like pan more than progress.
Mercer Ramdoo August 13, 2017 at 5:12pm

So where is Cecil, odw, bugs, Aquil, JJJ and the rest on this issue?? Awww, is not a trini ting?
- Bugs > Mercer Ramdoo August 14, 2017 at 5:17am
  
  This a boss move by the Grenadian steelbands. The prime minister of Grenada needs to step to the plate and address the situation.
  Trinidad, Brooklyn and Antigua pan people need to drink some Grenada water.
  
  bugs
911 August 13, 2017 at 10:11am

take something from Grenada.they are doing something good for pan.
Jennifer Ire August 13, 2017 at 10:09am

Bless these pan players for demanding respect for their talents, skills, commitment and beings. Yippee!!! May Trinidad pan players garner the courage to do the same.
ARTHUR W TRAVERSO August 13, 2017 at 4:51am

Total disrespect for Pan players in the Caribbean. T&T Pan players don't have unity and that is why the Big 5 have decided to do their own thing. Let's see how this plays out when the news get to the Mecca. In life you have to make sacrifices to achieve rewards and I am sure the governing Pan body in Grenada will be in disarray because of their failure to put on this annual panorama that the pan players have been practicing hard for the last few weeks .

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