Dear Mrs Beverley Ramsey Moore,
Have you considered that the present economic metamorphosis that economies globally are experiencing, is affecting the operations of major sponsors of the large steelbands? Is Pan Trinbago considering that as a consequence of the global slowdown, existing short to medium term contractual commitments, and possibly long term ones, may of necessity have to be reviewed, and some arrangements may have to start from scratch? Has anyone in elected national leadership, Pan Trinbago I mean, considered that unsponsored steelbands, single small and medium (your votes), that were usually assisted by community businesses, and business houses generally, funded by self help projects and personal donations, may have nothing to get for at least the next two to five years? Has anyone in elected national leadership, Pan Trinbago, considered that the government subvention that is the lifeblood of that organization, shall be reduced appreciably, significantly (say it how allyuh want)? That unsponsored bands, single small and medium, that usually depend on this handout from Pan Trinbago, via the government, may have nothing to get for at least the next two years?
Where will the price of pans go?
Will unsponsored bands be able to afford new instruments for the next five years? Will the price of pans drop? Will sponsors be willing to support the budgeted amount per unit price for new instruments (quite likely the largest chunk of annual budgetary allocations) during the rebuilding process?
What is the current price of the steel that the drums are rolled from? Are the people gifted with the management of Pan Trinbago’s pan factory considering the opportunities available for pre order of the best raw materials available on the market today, ready for delivery in surplus quantities when that time reaches, to keep recurrent expenditure down for an extended period, allowing the operation to achieve an accelerated economy of scale, as the price of that commodity has plunged globally?
Mrs. Ramsey Moore have you considered that at present, and in the foreseeable future for the remainder of your term you are the president of basically nothing, if you and your executive continue to relax on the spoils and say nothing?
How are you collectively imagining that the next panorama will be funded (I did not say, or mean panorama 2021, but let’s consider that one scheduled to start in November 2020)? Since this lockdown,
Pan Trinbago’s leadership seems to have forgotten that they are the SO CALLED WORLD GOVERNING BODY FOR PAN. Where the are you Madam Leader of a so-called global movement, we are in the peak of a global crisis? I call on the incumbent leadership of Pan Trinbago to STEP UP or STEP DOWN, and call new elections as soon as it it safe to do so, as you have demonstrated your bankruptcy by your silence in this period, only waiting to copy (fudge?teef) the creative and progressive ideas of others in pursuit of your greedy, selfish political agenda going forward, which quite likely may not be tailored for the needs of the wider steelband movement.
Over to Pan Trinbago.
Respectfully,
Claude Gonzales' Country Bookie Nemesis.
Replies
Carnivals and panoramas are being cancelled across the globe, what input did stakeholders in these jurisdictions have in these decisions? What was the input of The World Governing Body for Pan in any of these decisions? Was it YEA or NAY or complete SILENCE from Beverly Ramsey Moore and her tired bankrupt executive?
What will be Beverley Ramsey Moore's contribution to the decision to have or not to have Trinidad and Tobago carnival or panorama in 2021?
When will we realize that Pan Trinbago is ONLY an avenue to "EAT AH FOOD" , and GOVERNS NOTHING, and does not have any global influence, as much as it is influenced by what happens globally?
STEP UP or STEP DOWN.
Allow me to add, before the corona virus came on the scene the pan "industry" already took a downward turn" . You might have known, my band was very active all through the year and panorama was just another event for us. In recent time, very little work came by and it became economically viable not to continue with rehearsal until a PAYING engagement shows up ( panorama too turning out to be not economically viable ). This is counterproductive to our program of developing people's musicianship. People who cannot afford music lessons.
I am not blaming any administration for that. However my steel band's situation in not unique, therefore it is important that bandleaders get together and discuss the problem, come up with solutions, and chart a way forward. Where are those discussions? and Who's the authority on calling such meetings? me?
let me stay in my corner and develop my self eh.
we like it so.
Dear Aquil Arrindell,
I have always seen something in you, your ability to ignore and laugh in the face of criticism is rare and noble. I see leadership qualities in you, unlike Marcus Ash who is brilliant mind you, but a born follower. You could use him, I like that boy.
Mr Arrindell, as a band leader of an unsponsored band, have you considered the negative impact COVID-19 is having on:
Can these steelbands wait on Pan Trinbago who seems to be waiting on the government, instead of forwarding to the government proposals solicited from their membership, from which a consensual position can be arrived at, in an effort to soften the socioeconomic impact that already distressed steelbands shall be experiencing?
I have a suggestion to fix that with a registered entity.
The SWiS™ Group.
The Steelbands Without Sponsors™ Group.
The Y axis of the matrix will attempt to collect data on the following
This will be available for public scrutiny as read only to ensure transparency and accountability™.
Russell Providence eh looking tuh make money or lead nobody or nothing.
This is not a political group.
This is not a pressure group.
™This is a group of peers getting together to discuss common issues that impact their survival and existence, and to come up with suggestions that will promote their survival and sustainability™©
Over to you for a public response Mr. Arindell.
Yours respectfully,
you an yuh partner nemesis,
De Country Bookie.
At one time the population danced to steelband music, the future depend on how much we see this as the main factor concerning steelband music.
Dear Mr. Arrindell,
yuh see dis: "I want to sincerely thank you and congratulate you for publicly acknowledging and recognising the direction and vision I had for pan." It eh mean nutten tuh me.
I doh come here tuh look for fren (I know who my friends are), or popularity (I doh know how tuh make money from that). I come here to express my views, and I will call it as i see it within the ambit of the law. Pan people are the most hypocrite and deceitful people you will ever come across. I suspect that you are fully aware of that Mr. Arrindell. Footballers and cricketers different.
Yuh will hear all kinda jackass logic jess now comimg from de president dong, when the shit start tuh fly in steelband leaders face, because it already hit de fan inno.
Hummuch upcoming panorama done cancel ahready Aquil? Hummuch more yuh feel guh cancel?
Steelband guh survive by going live on Facebook featuring de crackshot an dem and getting likes, ent?
Feature de baseman an dem nah. Feature ah guitar section.
Panmen better wake up an smell de weed, because it legal tuh smoke it home in Trinidad these days, and everybody home. Who in panyard these days, featured soloists?
(let me see which kakahole will interpret that to mean that I am against the soloists that are being featured at present during this era of social distancing and self quarantining)
I don't know why RUSSELL PROVIDENCE trying to revolutionize the thinking of PAN TRINBAGO and BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE when BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE and the entire team did not know how to compile a FINANCIAL REPORT for the first year in office. I am assuming that it was LACK OF ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS and not more BOBOL -- whey the money gone!!!
But then again they have a TREASURER who is under the WINGS of a TAINTED EX-VEE PEE and that is a toxic accountability combination right there because -- that is another story about DISAPPEARING FUNDS in PAN TRINBAGO that is sure to become BREAKING NEWS in the NEXT FEW MONTHS.
They hire a new PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER and he is ANYTHING but PUBLIC.
I still say that MEN OF TALENT AND SKILL who have HIGH HOPES of IMPROVING PAN STILL (ah steal that line from SNIPER) should get together and form a PRIVATE ORGANIZATION (outside of PAN TRINBAGO -- ah little redundancy there) and take all these ideas from RUSSELL PROVIDENCE and put them to the TEST to see how far we could TAKE PAN MUSIC and PAN ADMINISTRATION in TRINIDAD and TOBAGO.
The WORLD loves PAN MUSIC -- that has already been proven. So why can't we in TRINIDAD seek to represent it GLOBALLY not just with a fast food slogan like the incompetent WORLD GOVERNING BODY OF STEELBAND but with REAL TALENTED ADMINISTRATORS.
STEELBAND MUSIC the world know about it and is WE INVENT IT so why should we DISREGARD IT -- that is not my lyrics, eh. Ah think that MERCHANT SING THAT but he did not complete the PAY OFF LINE ... PAN IN DANGER!!! PAN IN DANGER!!! ... UNDER BEVERLEY and she INCOMPETENCY!!!
Steelbands have not yet woken up to the changes that COVID-19 have made to that movement.
Steelband leaders, and quite likely most players have not yet woken up to the lasting changes that COVID-19 will make to their bands, and their memberships.
Aquil Arrindell has his studio. He is ready for the future.
I want to sincerely thank you and congratulate you for publicly acknowledging and recognising the direction and vision I had for pan. Unfortunately our membership can't see the future and as a consequence they chose to live in the pass. I regrettably had no choice but to move on without them.
Correction, Audio and video studio and in the near future hopefully ,animation and gaming as well.
Well that is THE BEST PAN ARTICLE I have read in a REAL LONG TIME -- with so many clauses that got to the edge of the precipice and took a step back. Whatever HEART that BEVERLEY may have had for PAN has been overcome (negated) by the DIZZINESS she is experiencing from being accepted in certain SOCIAL CIRCLES in PORT OF SPAIN.
As they say locally: SHE REACH!!!
So we could criticize and complain and expect -- but BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE is not going to DO SOMETHING FOR PAN.
STEP DOWN? She done planning she 2021 ELECTION CAMPAIGN ALREADY!!! And dem recalcitrant PAN MEN coming right back to VOTE SHE IN for ah next THREE YEARS.
WORLD GOVERNING BODY OF PAN -- DOH MAKE MEH LAUGH!!!
GREGORY LINDSAY was the FIRST PAN MAN during this COVID CRISIS to suggest that THE ORGANIZATION should step and find ways to assist ... but like he was TALKING TO THE PAN TRINBAGO OFFICE WALLS.