DESPERS FLEES THE HILL

CRIME has forced the Witco Desperadoes to flee their Laventille Hill home after more than 60 years and seek refuge in Belmont, officials of the panside said yesterday. The ’pride of Laventille’ will now be based in Belmont as they prepare for next year’s Panorama competition, the band’s assistant manager, Kelvin ’Warlord’ Holder, said yesterday. Despers will conduct Panorama rehearsals at the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) car park located at the corner of Cadiz Road and Queen’s Park East for the second time for next year’s Panorama. The panside made the bold move because of dwindling support and player safety, Holder told the Express at the NIB car park yesterday. Officials of the steelband were at the car park to officially start their Carnival preparations for next year. It was a move that proved successful during this year’s Panorama, Holder said full story

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  • Regrettable,but sensible decision at this time.
    At the same time,more people would be able to
    hear the best steelband in the world at practice.
  • It is really sad that a cultural icon and community band has to relocate owing to the state of crime in our sweet T&T. What next is the question on my mind. In my eyes my sweet T&T will always be my paradise. I hope that we restore it to its Podium. Pan 4 Life
    • i really hear what the born Trini's are saying about how sad they feeling about Despers coming down from the hill due to the safety issue.

      but i am questioning the big melodramatic headline: "Flees the Hill" - since this isn't the first year theyv'e done it. They did it last year too - so this is no big surprise news. Not sayin i'm any kinda expert, but from what i hear, it has much to do with greater ease of accessibility for Panorama practice, and the main panside remains in the home yard on the hill - nah true? So they not really 'fleeing', or 'taking refuge' - just relocating temporarily for Panorama - right?

      somebody please correct me if i'm misunderstanding that. But it seems the title of the article is kinda misleading, overdramatic and sensationalized.
      • Catt,

        That's the "Press" for you - normal stuff - it's what sells papers, and catches the public - especially when the public will agree mostly. While there is really the factor of the 'lawless' elements, etc. - for what is now a practical move - I sincerely doubt the Despers people told the reporter(s) who wrote the story that they were "Fleeing" the hill. Several of the Despers clan live on that "hill" and that's where they are going back to after practising near the savannah every night.

        I agree with you about the misleading and sensationalizing. Think of it as a fiasco, where everyone puts in their two cents.

        Now instead of trying to happily "roast" Desperadoes for their move, and having a major discussion about it - won't it be nice if Trinidadians decided to take on the government led by their disconnected and don't care leadership, and hold them accountable for the crime situation in general all over the country?

        Don't know what the final figures are for murders in T and T, but I think they are just over 500 for 2009. The population of Trinidad and Tobago is about one million, three hundred thousand. New York city has roughly about ten million - officially. And we're not counting the "undocumented." For 2009, New York looked at about 460, dont know what the final figure is yet.

        I have to wonder why is a city with about ten times the population of Trinidad, having less murders than Trinidad? Instead of trying to analyze Desperadoes, and Laventille - why not have a chat with Mr. Patrick Manning about crime in Trinidad? He is not at all humiliated or concerned about these stats. He appears to live above it all.

        So - if the Press really wants a headline, let them do some homework for a change, and demand answers from Mr. Manning, as to why he is not taking responsibility. See how Barack Obama is being barked at because of the "security issues"? He even cut short his vacation to get back in the saddle. But Trinidad's Prime Minister does not seem to be so concerned about his country's national issues.

        Nobody ain't perfect - but that chap has to be held accountable for a lot. Let's just say that Patrick Manning is living the easier and safer life, than the average Trinidadian. So where's the Press, and the rest of the busybodies?
  • I Think this is a good idea, More people will be able to visit the band prior to panorama, and maybe even purchase T-shirts and Cd's bringing in some revenue to the band,on the down side the people up the hill who will make some sales during the night of practice,will be hampered, but again it's all in the name of safety.
  • Folks, did you know that Invaders relocated themselves to the Queen's Park Oval and to Siegert Square in Woodbrook for practice sessions in the past so that they may have been able to have a chance at giving a good account of themselves at the panorama? Did you know that when Hell Yard became no longer available, Trinidad All Stars had to relocate to the Bus Stand compound on St. Vincent Street [ where the twin towers now stand] in the 70's for their practice sessions so that they might have a chance at competing honourably at the panorama? I bet you have never stopped to think of Starlift Steel orchestra who have, time and again, shifted base to various parts of Woodbrook, in order that they also might have a chance at competing in the National Panorama competition. San Juan All Stars did it in the 60's. East Side Symphony did it also. And, I am quite certain that others have done it too. It has all been for the grand purpose, as I said before, of providing one's band with the opportunity for proper practice sessions, attracting players, and good ones at that, encouragement of a nice, warm atmosphere in which to hone one's skills for the pan show, which is, in reality, a "no holds barred" contest. But, I guess that news about The Desperadoes, especially in the present social climate, sells newspapers. This is not an issue of real, true caring and concern about the band as it attempts to reinvent itself in the hope of success at Panorama 2010. Rather, this issue is being bandied about because it's sensational banter and can make the front page of the newspapers. After all, is Desperadoes yuh talkin 'bout. But others have done it too. Though the scales may differ somewhat, the fact remains that others have done it.

    Why not talk instead about the "player-removal" issues of Panorama 2009 and whether any moves are afoot to relieve pan-people of that unnecessary fiasco for 2010. Leave the Desperadoes alone. Happy New Year.
    • Ed, did these other bands move because their home area was dangerous and no one wanted to come hear/play in that area? Were those bands forced to move to protect themselves and their supporters?
      I don't know eh, not trying to be facetious, I'm just asking.
      • Actually, it was more for the same practice reason that Despers has mentioned. Not necessarily crime as crime then was definitely not what it is now. That is why I said that others did it out of needs that were not necessarily the same as Despers. Largely, some had to go because they were thrown out. Simple. In the eye of the pan person, that is also seen as criminal.
  • I take offense to the statement, "you can take take people out of the gutter, but you cannot take the gutter out of them." It's the same old stereotyping of the people from the Laventille Hills, from those whose nose are "90 degrees." up or down.
    To state that some members of Desperadoes are gang members is so far from the truth. Desperadoes Steel Orchestra Stageside, is the smallest of them all (33). The youngest members are the children of Bertrum "teeths" Glasgow, the band's captain, and none of his (7) kids has never been in any trouble. They are all productive citizens of our Beautiful Trinidad and Tobago. Please people, do not state false infomation about Laventille. Lets not blame Peter for Paul, and Paul for all.
  • I agree with McQuilkin that the issue of relocation is simply for the sake of proper accommodation, in the circumstances. There is no "mortar in the pestle" issue here. It is simple common-sense and sensibility at work. Let's move on people. Desperadoes has its duty to perform for this year's Panorama, unheeded. So, without further ado, why not just let them be.
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