Pannist/arranger Duvone Stewart plays the pan at the International Music Night of the Tobago Jazz experience at the Pigeon Park Heritage Park on Sunday.

Tobagonian-born pannist and Duvone Stewart was literally brought to tears on Sunday evening, as he was honoured by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for his outstanding contributions to the steelpan fraternity.

As a tribute, Stewart was presented with a portrait of himself by Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, Tourism and Culture Secretary Nadine Stewart PAhillips and Chairman of the Festivals Commission, George Leacock International Music Night of the 2018 Tobago Jazz Experience held at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. Stewart’s portrait was done by artist Shonari Richardson.

Speaking with reporters following the presentation, Stewart expressed his gratitude for the tribute.

“I am very, very pleased. I am very honoured to be back home. Of all the accolades and the successes that I have had thus far, it is fulfilling for me to be recognised by the people back home. I feel honoured to receive all this love here, it was shocking but then again, I receive everything with an open heart and I will continue to make myself become the flag ship of steelpan music from Tobago to the world.

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  • Where do original pannists come from...Trinidad, Tobago or Trinidad and Tobago? Do you hail from Trinidad and Tobago???

  • Hmm...

  • Allyuh sending the man all over the globe and we need HELP right  here. So we building the ting all over the world, and we eh have nutten here. Shouldn't there be a governing body in T&T? Allyuh hatta wake me when it over.

    • Mercer: The thing almost done build over many parts of the world. And the world is FULL OF DEMAND for the product if you have the right talent.

      And I will let you in on a little secret!!! All the hate people in Trinidad hate ANDY NARELL, do you know that ANDY NARELL was THE PERSON who helped Duvone to launch is INTERNATIONAL CAREER? That is true!!!

      Yuh hit the right note!!! It is not just about PLAYING THE PAN, you have to have the character and humility and human decency and sociability to become the GLOBAL AMBASSADOR that Duvone is becoming. And what the LOCALS don't know is that there is PLENTY DEMAND for GLOBAL STEELBAND AMBASSADORS with the right musical skills. Or even less than the RIGHT MUSICAL SKILLS.

      But THE LOCALS do not have a CLUE on how to TAP the GLOBAL MARKET!!!

  • Long, Long, Overdue.  Well-deserved.  Congrats!!!

  • Best wishes to Duvone as he takes his brand all over the world.
    • Is not HIS BRAND, Cecil!!! It is the PAN BRAND!!!

  • merrytonestothebone: I will tell you a funny true life joke about this issue and my prejudice, which is a popular prejudice in Trinidad -- at least when I lived there.

    When the OURBOYS  STEELBAND (FROM TOBAGO) came out here almost 20 years ago, I stepped up and helped them in many ways. So sometimes I would give a few of them ride to a GIG and help them move the pans and stuff like that. But once they were there I would leave and go about my business.

    One day I dropped a few of them of to do a job and as I was about to head back to the car, one of the players asked me: Claude how come you always give us rides and thing but you never come to hear us play?

    And without thinking or editing, I impulsively blurted out: "Because TOBAGO PEOPLE CYAR PLAY NO PAN!!!"

    TRUE STORY!!! Later on I decided to GO WITH THE FLOW and started to attend the shows and ting. But maybe early prejudices die hard. Or never die for that matter.

    • Claude boy...If is one thing...Re: your final two sentences...I admire your honesty...lol...

  • Well, Duvone Stewart now seems to be the self-appointed GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR PAN. And I have always been calling for a GLOBAL AMBASSADOR for PAN -- so I am jiggy with it!!!

    Like meh CYRSTAL BALL working, boy. A few years ago I was driving  DUVONE STEWART and SALMON CUPID from San Francisco to Sonoma State University (about a 70 mile drive) do a presentation for the school STEELBAND GROUP. After the presentation I suggested to them that the T&T GOVERNMENT should appoint them GLOBAL AMBASSADORS FOR PAN and have them travel the world promoting the instrument.

    Look now!!! Both of these guys have become GLOBAL AMBASSADORS for PAN on their own initiative.

    That is a project I would love to be associated with!!! And one that I would like to see implemented, officially!!!

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