By Aquil Arrindell
MP for San Fernando West, Attorney General, Faris Al Rawi; His Worship the Mayor of San Fernando, Junior Regrello, in collaboration with Pan Moving Forward, brought relief through a hamper drive to panists from steel bands within the San Fernando West Constituency.
After a terribly rainy Tuesday morning, in contrast, the evening was blessed with warm golden sunshine on Coffee street where Skiffle’s steel band resides. Band leaders gathered and the pekong (jokes on each other) start. In the middle of the pekong was our very own Mayor of San Fernando, Junior Regello. Mr. Lesedi Felix travelled all the way from Diego Martin to represent the band called Nuttin Big steel orchestra to assist with today’s distribution and ended up being an old talk piñata. Mr. Regrello told him how much licks Skiffle used to put on his band back in the day, with little or no response from Mr. Felix because he may have been too young to even know of that time. It was really refreshing to see all my brothers and sisters in pan interacting again after a year plus of separation.
Mr. Regrello donated hampers through the mayor’s office to the drive. He admitted that this was not the first instance of this as he had the opportunity to donate to a couple of steel bands in San Fernando since the Covid 19 pandemic started. In our interview with him, he told us about the time police picked him up on his way home from practice. He, being a teenager, his grandmother was chastised for allowing him to be out that late. Now he can reflect on that moment and see how it all paid off in the end. “I am the only pan mayor in the world” he boasted and he pledged for the remaining duration of his tenure in office, he would do all he can the help the steel bands in San Fernando.
“Vaccination is the key”, says Faris in his address to an attentive group of band leaders. “Lock down is not sustainable and if we want a carnival, we must take the jab”. This was the major message that was delivered as Mr. Al Rawi took the opportunity to encourage steel band leaders to convince their members that the fastest way to normalcy is through vaccination. San Fernando West constituency’s office, through Mr. Al Rawi, was a major contributor towards the drive and the evenings’ success.
Mr. Al Rawi recalled, in his younger years, that he travelled with Skiffle and the Roaring Lion to Rome. Mr. Al Rawi played the role of a translator/coordinator for the trip. He remembered what it was like when the sound of our national instrument filled the city of Rome with excitement from the audience and national pride it brought to him. He dabbled with the trap set and the sax as a youth but never the steel pan. His involvement then was following the steel bands up and down the Coffee together with his mom. Mr. Al Rawi expressed how thrilled he was to be part of the initiative to bring relief to steel pan players and would like to continue working with us to address any issues surrounding the steel bands in his Constituency. Many small bands at the event acknowledged that they would have received assistance from the MP’s office for their preparation for past Panoramas.
Again, the steel band movement is feeling the generosity from the politicians that represent us. Based on the feedback of the band’s leaders, they were all extremely happy. So, to the Honourable Attorney General, Mr. Faris Al Rawi and His Worship the Mayor of San Fernando, Mr. Junia Regrello, thank you. Your generosity is duly noted by the pan community and our day of interaction with you both showed us how really down to earth you both are.
Pan Moving Forward
Aquil Arrindell
Replies
While I don't really care for this Aquil character, this initiative is a good one.
Pan is evidently moving forward with the help of Aquil Arrindell.
Communities and bands are growing stronger together with Aquil's imaginative and creative humanitarian initiatives.
I continue to be encouraged by Aquil's behavior, which seems to be influenced by the leadership qualities built into his DNA.
Aquil: Like yuh beating BEVERLEY with she own HAM(PER) BONE!!!
Ah hear the woman losing she mind because she think that YOU running for President with all dem hampers yuh handing out; and yuh know that BEVERLEY rather HANG SHE SELF than LOSE THIS ELECTION.
THIS ELECTION GO BE REAL BACCHANAL ... and NOBODY DOH WANT TO HIRE MEH as a political consultant.