From the news desk of:: Robert Hernandez
1 September 2021
To: ALL MEMBER BANDS OF PAN TRINBAGO
ALL BAND MEMBERS AND PLAYERS
Ref: “Illegal postponement of Pan Trinbago’s constitutionally mandated elections”
We write to you with grave concern regarding the letter issued yesterday, September 20 2021, signed by Secretary Denise Hernandez, informing all member bands of the “Postponement until further notice of the 2021 Convention & Annual General Meeting”. The letter further stated that the decision to postpone the elections was taken at a meeting of the Central Executive on Friday September 17, 2021.
Our members and supporters, comprising a large cross section of our Pan Fraternity, strongly CONDEM this decision and illegal action by the Central Executive, and DEMAND that a scheduled date be announced to hold the constitutionally mandated 2021 Convention and Triennial Meeting. This decision, orchestrated by the President and supported by six members on the Executive Committee, is both an insult and total disrespect to all members of Pan Trinbago. This President has failed us in the worst way, having refused to provide the membership with any financial accountability since taking office in 2018, and is now hell bent on remaining in office at any cost so she can further destroy our organisation.
The reason given for the postponement of the elections is the requirement to be in compliant with the Public Health Regulations which prohibits large gatherings in one space. There was also reference to a State of Emergency and Curfew, and the restriction on public gatherings of no more than 5 persons.
Although these regulations may be cited, Organisations throughout Trinidad and Tobago have been conducting Annual General Meetings and holding elections since the beginning on the Pandemic in 2020. It is common to see in our daily news papers, advertisements by large Credit Unions, Banks, Insurance Companies and many other types of NGO’s scheduling such meetings and elections. These organisations respect their membership and conduct the affairs of their business in a transparent and law abiding manner.
Organisations have adapted to the virtual world, and ZOOM meetings are being held with plans that can accommodate up to 500 persons, and can even go to 1000 persons. There is also the Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah, where with permission and following the proper protocols, members can observe social distancing and our elections can be held. It seems as though no attempt or consideration was given to holding our elections, and the current Central Executive is of the opinion that the membership will just roll over and be hoodwinked into this illegal attempt at postponing our elections.
We the members of The Pan Movement for Innovation, Development & National Unity stand for justice, transparency, responsible governance and a total respect for the democratic right to vote in a free society, will fight to the very end to make sure that all members of Pan Trinbago have the ability to exercise their constitutional right to vote in the 2021 elections.
The current executive of Pan Trinbago have proven to be a group that puts themselves first before considering the welfare and best interest of the membership. The time has come now to put responsible leadership in place to command the respect of the National Community, and manage the affairs of the Organisation for the benefit of its members and the Steelband Movement,
We thank you for your continued commitment and look forward to your support.
Yours in Pan!
Robert Hernandez
Pan Movement for Innovation, Development and National Unity
Replies
Totally endorse your sentiments.
Aquil Arrindell: One set of TALK and NO ACTION.
As RUSSELL PROVIDENCE IMPLIED: BEVERLEY RUNNING POLITICAL RINGS AROUND ALLYUH!!!
And as CLAUDE GONZALES IMPLIED: Allyuh better have a SIT DOWN with AKIBA PAN MAN JOSEPH ... I am sure that he could make BEVERLEY an offer that SHE CANNOT REFUSE to HOLD THE ELECTIONS in OCTOBER 2021.