Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Exodus Steel Orchestra Manager Ainsworth Mohammed, left, and his Attorney Masaisai
leave the Hall of Justice after they won their injunction last night.
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Republic Bank Exodus will be allowed to play Kees Dieffenthaller’s Savannah Grass for the upcoming Panorama final, Justice Kevin Ramcharan has ruled.
Ramcharan gave the decision late last night during an emergency sitting of the High Court after the attorneys for Exodus filed an injunction against Pan Trinbago earlier in the day.
The decision came at the same time Republic Bank was hosting a lime at the Tunapuna panyard of the four-time Panorama champions.
Exodus’ manager Ainsworth Mohammed said the decision would have made last night’s lime “a little brighter” on the steps of the Hall of Justice around 9 pm, moments after Ramcharan had read out his judgement.
“We are actually very relieved but I must admit I felt it was a sad day and a sad week for pan and the steelband movement and we don’t gloat in that kind of thing. We don’t gloat in victories like this. We would like to see the steelband movement move forward with strength and that is the most important thing for us,” Mohammed said.
Pan Trinbago's 13 points for denying Exodus request:
1. The possible effect of such a change if permitted on all other bands in your client's category, who could view this change as an unfair advantage being meted out to your client.
2. The emerging public support as well as public condemnation as indicated on social media at your client's telegraphed intention to change its tune of choice.
3. The possible consequent threats from these bands to launch a Panorama strike thereby putting the entire competition in jeopardy.
4. The possibility of Pan Trinbago Inc. being faced with multiple lawsuits from other bands in your category because of a perceived advantage being meted out to your client in the allowing of the change of tune at this stage or at all.
5. The administrative chaos that would ensue if Pan Trinbago Inc. were to face multiple lawsuits on the eve of the Panorama finals, any or all of which Pan Trinbago would not be in a financial position to litigate and which legal burden would have a knock-on effect on its ability to pay prize monies on time.
6. The possibility that the uncertainty around whether bands would boycott the competition would lead to a consequential drop in patron turnout, interest and revenues.
7. The loss of confidence in Pan Trinbago Inc. as a competent administrative body and in the integrity of the adjudication of the competition should your change in the tune of choice result in your client either placing higher or lower than it current rankings in the competition.
8. The effect of such a decision on the morale of players in other bands, both positive and negative.
9. The effect of such a decision on the patrons to the Panorama Finals and the community of steelband supporters.
10. That there was no similar application from any band in the history of Pan Trinbago Inc.'s management of the competition since its incorporation in 1986.
11. Nor had any other member bands raised either prior to or during the 2019 competition or at any time, their need for clarity on this rule or their desire to be able to change their tune of choice after the commencement of the competition;
12. The entire structure of the judging which is in part predicated on the assumption that the same song with be played by a competitor at all stages of the competition.
13. The skill and competence of arrangers who with the guidance of the adjudicators comments, re-tailor their arrangements to suit.
Replies
Wish all you experts in the case would remove your blinders and take a good look at the big picture. First of all Exodus have the right to request a change of tune since there is no stipulation preventing then from doing so. However, Pan Trinibago could deny or accept the request for change providing certain criteria(s) are met. 1. Exodus must re-qualify with their new choice of tune as in the preliminaries and in a timely manner prior the semi final. (no free pass, this is a new tune). 2. They, Exodus, must agree that the point awarded at their 2nd testing may or may not favour them and as a result could disqualify them from the competition completely, moving into 10th place the band with the next highest score. 3. There would be administrative fees associated with this change charged to Exodus in addition to fees payed to the panel of judges. 4. The panel of judges may or may not be the same as in the preliminaries. etc, etc. Exodus get what they want, Pan Trinibago get what want. Problem solved.
Needless to say it is an insult and a slap in the face to the band that did not make the cut into that tenth spot? Shouldn't we all agree that they in turn also have the right to bring charges against Pan Trinibago for favouring Exodus and giving them an advantage in this competition and neglecting the rest? You just don't say oops! we don't think we are doing too good with this tune. We'd like to switch. Thank you. All bands have ample time to decide their tune of choice and stick with it.
(No correction please. "Trinbago" does not roll of my tongue) Also, Exodus is band I admire and my comment is not to be misconstrued as animosity against them.
Well, there's an expert opinion w/o blinders. The judge has ruled. EOS.
I still don't understand how BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE could be BLIND TO THE POLITICS. Especially with all the committees and advisers she has surrounding her. Many of them born and grow up around town and have all kind of connections so they should have been aware of what they were stepping into.
And not one person could have told her: Just let them PLAY THE SONG!!!
Even RUSSELL PROVIDENCE took time off fighting GLOBAL WARMING in TRINIDAD to come and beg her TO LEAVE IT ALONE. And RP is a man who KNOWS THE LOCAL POLITICS -- so it was not an IDLE WARNING.
But I have to say that I like the BUSH LAWYERNESS of Point 10!!!
However, the results of that COURT CASE was SET IN STONE long before it reach THE JUDGE.
But, ultimately, BEVERLEY still got the POWER -- because she could instruct the JUDGES to put EXODUS in last place. All the more reason why she should have just let them SWITCH IN PEACE.
Ah picking EXODUS to come 10TH!!!
I like point #10 as well. There must be some comedic aspect to this charade.