BY Gary Cardinez and Asha Javeed
Trinidad Guardian
For the second time since it came from “up the hill”, ten-time Panorama champions Witco Desperadoes is being moved.
The band was using the empty lots at Cadiz Road and 16-17 Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, the carpark for customers of restaurants Apsara and Thamnak Thai, which have belonged to the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago (NIBTT) for the past few years.
However, the NIBTT recently turned the sod at that location for construction of its new headquarters, leaving the band without a location to practise their craft ahead of Panorama 2015.
Replies
The whole long and short of this is the Government got to get a Grip on the Violence in the Country. The Crime has an Effect on all of these things.
Steelbands are no longer 'community' bands and the panists are like hired labour
who can be hired to play for any band, anywhere,
New Year greetings.there is a reason why THINGS happen, we have to seek out the POSITIVE from whatever the situation is .DESPERADOES has a panyard, Some of the players who do not reside up the hill will have some challenges getting home from practice DUE TO AVAILABLE Transport , Some supporters , who SAY they love DESPERADOES, WILL NEVER come up the hill to listen to the BAND they SAY they LOVE.; but life goes on
. This is an opportunity for TOTAL UNITY . WE all need to PRAY for TOTAL PEACE in all Communities , especially in EAST DRY RIVER
Even during the height of the Carnival Season there is a huge unused parcel of land on the Queen's Park Savannah located near the North Eastern corner which can be used temporarily to house a few of the unfortunate bands in the Northern area.Maybe something can be worked out between Witco and the City Council.Or between a few of the affected bands and the City Council who seems incapable of protecting it's burgesses "up the hill".Just an idea Mayor TimKee.....time to get busy and earn your keep!
Sorry Salah, if the present powers that be didn't want the "Pan in School Project" why do you think they will give in to a Ministry specifically for steelpan? ... not, of course, unless it include the dholak, harmonium, tassa, tabla and dhantal. Keep the dream alive. Lol
Hollis ,, because pan belongs to Trinidad ( made in Trinidad ,, a product of Trinidad) the other instruments were made and invented outside of Trinidad.) ...The Ministry is a great uphill battle ...but a battle worth fighting for by any means necessary ( within the law) .. No one says that it will be an easy sell...but we are doing the research and we will not give up on the concept simply because it makes sense and it will be good for Pan ..... skepticism about a project like this is normal and this will take time ...so your response is normal Hollis ....however addressing the Desperadoes dilemma is an immediate urgency .......Salah
Why Invaders need a spot round the savannah?
so, where will they call home for carnival season 2015??
This is an unfortunate situation.
Perhaps we really do have to seriously consider a Ministry exclusively for the Steelpan to address these and more similar issues in the future ....just saying
Salah
Ministry? for what? these people playing the fool for years, shooting up one another, fights among themselves, burning tires and garbage on the road, etc. Whats needed is law and order. This is all, don't suck up to hooligans.
Pan is music,music is education, its unfortunate their own youth in the area cannot practice in their own band. Up the hill vs down the hill, total crap, many trinis also forget we are in 2015, not 1815.
Gun amnesty and curfew is a great start for Laventille.
Happy New Year Salah
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