THE DESIGNATION of August 11 as World Pan Day by Pan Trinbago is an acknowledgment of the international reach of pan. Countries such as Switzerland, Denmark, Grenada, Germany, Japan, Finland, the Netherlands, France, US, and UK have pan associations or teach and practise the pan. But closer to home, two issues regarding the national instrument requiring greater attention should be noted.
Pan Trinbago has expressed disappointment that pan will not be more prominently featured in the finale of Carifesta XIV, a concert called Island Beats, scheduled to take place on August 24. The show, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, will feature international stars Shaggy, Kassav, Calypso Rose, Machel Montano, Nailah Blackman, and other local acts. But Pan Trinbago feels disappointed pan will not be represented at the concert, except for the playing of the national anthem.
“We are totally upset in Pan Trinbago,” said the organisation’s president Beverly Ramsey-Moore. Its external relations officer Dane Gulston linked this situation to a pigeonholing of pan.
“The time has passed for steelband to just play at cocktail hours,” he said. “Pan is not good enough for that concert? Honestly, I think this is a total disrespect to the pan fraternity.”
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