Trinidad Express Editorial
Story Created: May 2, 2012 at 10:57 PM ECT
Just in time for tomorrow's start of the international Steelfestt festival comes the news that the government is ready to fast track Pan Trinbago's long languishing headquarters. Whether planned or merely opportunistic, this is a move in the right direction.
For ten years, this project which began with the Panday administration's allocation of land along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, has been at a standstill. While the Manning administration focused its efforts on the development of the G-Pan, the steelband movement and industry were left in virtual cold storage, locked in the ritual struggle for space which, every Panorama season, culminated in an annual confrontation with the state.
So if Tuesday's declarations by Culture Minister Winston Peters and Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal signal a new drive to bring this project to completion, it can only be welcomed.
While we fully endorse the push to get the headquarters completed as soon as possible, we urge the interests involved to resist the temptation to ignore key precepts in any haste to cut a ribbon on this project. As the flagship of the steelband movement, this edifice needs the best that can be brought to it. In particular, we need to avoid the errors made in the construction of the National Academy for the Performing Arts which, while the country has no choice but to use it for all its worth, is riddled with shortcomings for performers and audience alike.
What a joy it would be if our best minds could be brought to the design of a building that epitomises what the steelpan already represents: indigenous creative excellence. This building must be no ordinary headquarters but a symbol of our genius, both in design and utility.
Already Cuba is stealing a march on us with its planned Pan Theme Park at el Cobre Santiago de Cuba, near one of Cuba's most visited tourist destinations, La Virgin de la Caridad. Given their commitment to purpose and their cultural confidence, we look forward to the Cubans' interpretation of a Pan Theme Park.
Replies
Whoppeee! As well as being PanTrinbago Headquarters, it can also herald the greatness of the Steelpan. Use the limited space to maximize national benefit, but be sure to reserve adequate parking space. (By making a great impact you can make a case for expanding in the future.) The Headquarter can include a Visitor Centre where Tourists can be greeted with an attractive banner about the origin of the Steelpan. Don't worry if it is small, but make the centre educational, attractive and lucrative (selling steelpan souvenirs, bottled water etc).
I look foreward to visiting our new head quaters soon, but after all these years, could we bring back the Chineses to re-design a Steel band structure, that one can recognize as the H Q of the National Instrument from an air plane in the sky. That will be soooo nice.
Do something for PAN.
Yes, I read that article on the newspapaer and thanks to "The Powers that be." The 15 million cost in 2001 is now 25 million in 2012. The estimated completion date is December of this year. However, if not, no later that June 2013. (hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh food for thought!
They say that plans are being drawn, so I wonder if the model displayed at Pantrinbago's office is a "gonna." I hope that all the leaders of registered Steel Orchestras of Pantrinbago are given a small input; there must be a room that is dedicated to all the pan pioneers and a small museum.
There is enough land up there ..where they should utilize to set up there own 'Savannah" where they could hold all future events like the Panorama ..etc..
I agree with you Salah. If land is no problem then we should work towards A STEELPAN CITY with the HQ looking like a Steelpan Ensemble. This should include a concert hall. There should be a track for the bands to enter a stage to be judged for panorama as well as accommodation for patrons
While this indeed is a welcomed gesture by the government, we have to be on guard that something is not given with the right hand while something is taken away with the left hand. Giving a completion to the Headquarters for the Steelpan cannot be a compensation for taking away or diluting the Pan in the School program. The school program should be enhanced to facilitate being a proper academic course in the curriculum...We must remain vigilant
Salah
Yes Mr. Salah,
My sentiments exactly.
Salah, this is why on Monday 7, 2012 in the INTERNATIONAL STEELPAN CONFERENCE at 2:00pm - 2:45pm Leon "Smooth" Edwards, UTT would present Pan in Education and 3:30pm - 4:30pm Josephine Torrel-Taylor
would present Pan in the Classroom.
We have to be vigilant if we want result, we have to use all the tools necessary on a daily basis WST, twitter, facebook. I am on the ground in Trinidad and I would defend the STEELPAN by all means necessary..
Mr. Samuels,
I hope that newsletters were sent out to all the Steel Orchestras in T&T and they will attend this conference. The pan diaspora must to be supportive of all pan events.
Terry I am not going to be there but I sincerly hope that they do the right thing.
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