Keith Diaz, President of Pan-Trinbago Speaks on Pan-Trinbago’s Africa Initiative

[Pan Times]

Pan Trinbago News article

 

Pan-Trinbago Inc. has established various corporate alliances in advancing both its domestic and international business thrusts.

In that regard, Pan-Trinbago along with FCL Communications Media Group Ltd. and the Principal of Xcel Steelpan Co. Ltd. established the Africa – Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan Development Company Limited in Nigeria in December 2011.

At an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the ATTSDC on Wednesday, 10^th October, 2012, the decision was taken to return the interest of the Principal of Xcel Steelpan to its original beneficiaries.

The shareholders in accordance with the directive of the meeting have retained legal counsel in both Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria to execute the appropriate actions.

We advise that any statements otherwise will be determined by the shareholders as defamatory to their reputation and contrary to the facts and the company shall take the appropriate legal action in such instances.

 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
A key element of Pan-Trinbago’s global co-operation initiative is to support capacity building in the steelpan community – artistic, technical and educational.

Pan-Trinbago proposes to utilize the expertise in Trinidad and Tobago to create new avenues and platforms to share this knowledge, particularly with countries seeking to strengthen socio-economic ties with the twin-island state.

Given the steelpan’s roots in Trinidad and Tobago’s African heritage – an instrument created and developed solely by the descendants of people from African countries like Nigeria.

Pan-Trinbago considers this an opportunity to “give back” to Africa the gift of this wonderful instrument that we got from its diaspora and to honour our shared history.

AFRICA INITIATIVE
On the invitation of the Nigeria - Trinidad and Tobago Chamber (NTTC) of which, Pan-Trinbago is a member, the President of Pan-Trinbago visited Nigeria on a fact-finding and business development mission in August 2011.

The visit was supported by Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in Nigeria and resulted in the subsequent performances of the WITCO Desperados Steel Orchestra, Professor Ken Philmore and Len “Boogsie” Sharpe in November/December of that same year at the Abuja Carnvial.

Pan-Trinbago has further deepened its initiative in Nigeria by entering a Memorandum of Understanding with QESS SERVICES LIMITED in August 2012; to provide pedagogic training, related to quality Certified Courses in Steelpan Music Technology in Trinidad and Tobago.

Pan-Trinbago is currently preparing to participate in:

• The Abuja Carnival, 24^th to 27^th November, 2012

• Port Harcourt Carnival, River State, 10^th to 15^th December, 2012

• Calabar Carnival, Cross River State, 1^st to 8^th December, 2012

Pan-Trinbago continues to work on similar initiatives with the NTTC and the Trinidad and Tobago Mission in Nigeria to participate or develop Carnivals in Camaroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Liberia.

Pan-Trinbago anticipates that these initiatives will be subsequently executed through the ATTSDC, as the company strengthens its resource base in Nigeria.

Pan-Trinbago has fully endorsed the initiative of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to monetize the indigenous culture of Trinidad and Tobago.

Keith Diaz
President
Pan-Trinbago Inc.

[Gregory Lindsay]

Good Morning President Diaz et al,

All protocols observed, sir, I have been advised through the regional secretariat mechanism of Pan Trinbago, that your good self, the Vice-President, and the Secretary of Pan Trinbago are currently out of the Republic of T&T on company business. 

 A letter has been drafted and written presented two days now at your office at HQ in keeping with association protocol ; and I have been trying to contact you on this matter which requires your most urgent presidential attention.

Are their acting appointments of those officers absent from the country in your travel delegation, in case of any emergency to deal and/or treat with ANY situations as they may arise from their absence........... Regrettably I have received no such advise from my regional chairman..Mr. President, please advise me, where ever you are.....please please please do something for pan and please advise us all. Time ticking sir. Tick TOck Tick TOck. Trying to make my boss look good, being loyal to the boss, yuh know You that is, of course..... Enjoy the trip. 

Respectfully sir.

Lindsay

Power Stars Steel Orchestra

114 Western Main Road

St. James,

Trinidad & Tobago

West Indies

 

November 22, 2012

 

Mr. Richard Forteau

Secretary – Central Executive

PAN TRINBAGO;

Room 1D, First Floor, Victoria Suites

14-17 Park St, Port-of-Spain

 

Re. OFFICIAL LETTER OF COMPLAINT REGARDING NOTICE OF REGIONAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS ET AL.

 

Dear Sir,

 

Further to my letter of October 19, 2012, I wish to acknowledge with many thanks receipt of my orchestra’s Panorama 2012 Net Appearance disbursement of $2970.00 TTD on the morning of the disbursement of Annual Reports of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday October 28, 2012 at the Capital Plaza.  I also acknowledge with many thanks your notice (ref. RF/hsj) of November 7, 2012 in which you gave notice of the Triennial Regional Meeting of the Northern Region of Pan Trinbago T.C Inc to be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the Communications Workers Union Hall, 146 Henry Street, Port-of Spain from the 5:00 p.m., for the following purposes:

 

1. 1.      To receive the Report of the Regional Executive for the period December 2009 to November 2012.
2. 2.      Elect Regional Officers.
3. 3.      To transact any other business that may be properly before the meeting.

 

 

According to the Constitution of Pan Trinbago Inc. reference is made to Article 10:1– Elections–which states, “Officers of the Association shall be selected by means of the electoral process which shall be held at two (2) levels:-a. The Central Executive Committee which shall be elected at the triennial Special Convention;
b. The Regional Executive Committee which shall be elected one (1) month after the Special Convention”.

 

And also according to the Constitution of Pan Trinbago Inc reference is made to Article 13:Offences Part A - 1,2, 4, 5 & 7 which states, “A: OFFENCES

1. 1.      Offences for which an Officer of the Association may be tried are as follows:-
   1. 1.      Repeated failure to abide by the provisions of this Constitution or any other written laws of the Association.
   2. 2.      Espousing doctrines repugnant to the principles, aims and objectives of the Association.
   3. 3.      Misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office.
   4. 4.      Personal Misconduct such as to bring the Association into disrepute.
   5. 5.      Conduct unbecoming of an Officer
   6. 6.      Misappropriation or misuse of funds of the Association.
   7. 7.      Abuse of powers and prerogatives of an Officer.
   8. 8.      Willfully failing or refusing to use means at his disposal to protect the property, rights and interests of the Association

 

 

Under my jurisdiction as a certified delegate of a bonafide member steelband of Pan Trinbago T.C Inc, and with the unanimous approval of my orchestra’s Board of Management as the Chairman/Manager, I am conveying to you through this official letter of complaint, formally lodging my orchestra’s strenuous objections with the trend of actions of the Secretary of the Association; in that (1) while in his acknowledged circular of November 7, 2012 and August 24, 2012 (ref. RF/hsj) as posted in the Annual Reports of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday October 28, 2012 at the Capital Plaza summarizes the execution of the event, managed and chaired under the pretext of the same circular of August 24, 2012 before the matter became sub judice thru High Court Order that placed all of the organization's electoral processes have been put on hold pending the judgment of the High Court on predetermined date of December 03, 2012; and in that (2.) the manner in which these notices from your office seen attached are being circularized within this misguided conceptual framework of your executive’s interpretation of the Constitution of Pan Trinbago Inc Article 10:1 as articulated by your good self at Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday October 28, 2012 at the Capital Plaza through the meeting’s Chair,  summarizes that which I speak of, in your office’s intent of deliberately corrupting and convoluting in a manner, in circumstances which I must say at best, is to create a cacophony of convulsions to deliberately corrupt salient Pan Trinbago constitutional clauses regarding Elections, that is at best abhorrently unacceptable.

 

 

If the Secretary of the Association through circular (ref. RF/hsj) of November 7, 2012 wishes to continue within the execution of this notice of Regional Election of Officers on the grounds of what The National Executive believed to be also a Triennial Special Convention Meeting where Central Executive elections are held; then the Secretary of the Association is reminded, that the current acknowledged notice of November 7, 2012 would be “in advisable if not inappropriate” as again, the matter of all of the organization's electoral processes Central Executive & by direct extension Regional Election of Officers is also sub judiced.

 

Your continued course of action, Mr. Secretary, I am to advise you in your collective wisdom, at best is ultra vires and illegal on Pan Trinbago's part and maybe construed by the Court in its current review on this matter; (1) at worst as an attempt to interfere and intimidate with a judicial process governed by the supreme authority of the Constitution of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago into giving you the remedy, the very remedy that you are being claimed from in the matter in the court in the first place;  and (2) at best allowing the plaintiffs in this litigation whilst the matter is pending in the bosom of the court, to build a case of legal ammunition of illegal notices to mount upon, until the matter can be ventilated before the Court at which time the National Executive can account for their willful disregard of the Order, on predetermined court date of December 03, 2012.

 

I trust that this correspondence which is made without prejudice will be taken in the vein on the basis of the precluded arguments that in accordance with the above mentioned reasons. It is our orchestra’s hope that in our well-placed trust in your good office that reason and good wisdom will prevail, and the correct course of action will be taken, for the reasons stated above already highlighted. 

 

Thanking you in advance for your kind assistance and service.

 

 

 

Respectfully,

 

 

 

Gregory Lindsay

Delegate

Power Stars Steel Orchestra

868.739.1387

 

cc.        Mr. John Harris                       Secretary, Power Stars Steel Orchestra

Mr. Keith Diaz                        President, Pan Trinbago

Mr. Douglas Williams             Chairman, North Region PAN TRINBAGO

Mr. Vernon Morancie             Chairman, Eastern Region PAN TRINBAGO

Mr. Eldon J.W. Bain               Chairman, South Region PAN TRINBAGO

Mr. Jeffrey Joseph                  Chairman, Tobago Region PAN TRINBAGO

[Gregory Lindsay]

Mr. President,

A question for you!

When the Minister of Arts & Multiculturalism Lincoln Douglas, at the letters of appointment ceremony for the incoming board of the National Carnival  Commission, announced the return of the one thousand dollar ($1000.00) remittance for Pannists in the Preliminaries round of Panorama 2013,...Was that part of your board's initiative? The Minister asked the Pan Trinbago official (who ever was present) to comment on that initiative in a joking manner!...No-one spoke for Commissioner Diaz on the news (print or electronic), representing PanTrinbago at the NCC.

A word to the wise as Mr. Melville Bryant would say....Word has gotten back to me that others cc. in my letter to Mr. Forteau, at the rank of Chairman I dare say, are claiming it as their victory, and working to put more food in the panman basket for Panorama at Semi-Final stage ....Believe it or not?....I seek clarification Mr. President....

Are you hearing me...Mr. President....roman friend here calling for de BOSS reporting for duty...listen to me and give me a bligh nah please...Up to now, I am unable to receive the remittance for four (4) bounced cheques at $800.00 per player totalling $3200.00. which my orchestra has paid out to our players since Panorama 2012.....Since October 28, 2012 to now all kinda song and dance to get that money owed to my orchestra with the Treasurer, as I suppose in his position, he is at times constrained, hence the delay..Consider this advice in the public domain transparent as it continues to be, as the note to the Treasurer as he has requested for my band's just due. I am getting tired and weary of these games, Mr. President, peep and dodge, and jump through the hoop.............

..Mr. President, roman friend was there for you when the last minister of culture cut the remittance to $800.00, and 88 people showed there to support you in your challenge to play 8800 pannists what they ought to have been paid. We have walked a long road this term together, long & hard, good and bad..being loyal to you, Having said that, test me if you must, Mr. President..Don't make me go where Kublalsingh is right now in front of Prime Minister's office for this movement called PAN TRINBAGO...because If I reach there it will be to see Madame K., to call for a FULL FORENSIC AUDIT via office of Auditor-General into Pan Trinbago and pull a sword on my king.Your Majesty...

...Advantage is advantage .. Ah done write and done Talk. Talk nah..Say something and Do something for pan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Respectfully 

Lindsay

Power Stars Steel Orchestra

[Bertel Gittens]

Mr Lindsay, These people, the President and his company, cant or would not understand the English language. The only thing they would understand is the words that come out of the mouth of a High Court Judge. And this is regrettable. I would suggest you go straight to the courts on this one also.

[Gregory Lindsay]

I am a new warrior/defender to this movement and I shall continue being one of the new voices who would stand up for what I believe in, to stand up for truth, honesty, and justice for all members of the organisation. I am not afraid to challenge Pan Trinbago's leadership and shall continuously hope that my efforts at an attempt to revive that old warrior spirit of the ancestors of this great instrument,  will continue to attempt to follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned "warriors"and make my voice be heard whenever there are slip ups, from the National Executive.

I have to admit that though the venue was improved, the seating arrangement for the meeting convention seating which did take most delegates by surprise; as change was again attempted to be implemented through instruction, albeit again without tact and any sense of emotional intelligence, as proper dissemination channels of communication from the top down to the Regional Chairmen in advance was absent it seems as the trend goes.

The acrimonious nature of the banter of commentary which ensued didn't allow time for the questions on the President's Report to be adopted; though considered as read..The President's vicious and vitriolic attacks on this When Steel Talks forum and all of its detractors got plenty of air time at the meeting. Measure that if you will against Trinidad Express Editor-in Chief,  Omatie Lyder's Editorial on Bertie Marshall, that quoted the When Steel Talks forum is the most informed medium in the world of Pan.

Trevor Cooper's account of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday October 28, 2012 at the Capital Plaza summarizes the execution of the event, managed and chaired under the pretext of a circular from August 24, 2012 what The National Executive believed to be a Triennial Special Convention Meeting where Central Executive elections are held. The Secretary of the Association through the Chair, is seemingly having concussions from the High Court Order that all of the organization's electoral processes have been put on hold pending the judgment of the High Court on predetermined date of December 03, 2012. 

These elected Central Committee officers are operating in a manner hell bent on exercising, it seems their imperial right in circumstances which I must say at best, is to create a cacophony of convulsions to corrupt salient Pan Trinbago constitutional clauses regarding Elections, by posting  (within the 2012 Annual Reports booklet) an illegal notice of Triennial Regional Meetings of Pan Trinbago T.C. Inc.on November 28, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. at no locations identified.

This action I have been advised at best is ultra vires on Pan Trinbago's part and maybe construed by the Court in its current review on this matter; (1) at worst as an attempt to interfere with a judicial process governed by the supreme authority of the Constitution of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago;  and (2) at best allowing the plaintiffs in this litigation, to build a case of legal ammunition of illegal notices to mount upon, until the matter can be ventilated before the Court at which time the National Executive can account for their willful disregard of the Order.

To the leadership at Pan Trinbago reading this discussion, a word to the wise coming from the floor.....I implore you to proceed with caution and even the person who you think and believe is a fool has a message for you....is not what you do but how you do it. 

Please be guided accordingly, Mr. President.

Regards

Gregory Lindsay

[Steve]

Hi, Mr. Diaz Iam happy to see the direction that you have taken the national insrument. But what are the benifits on T&T behalf.History has shown us that  everyone is spell-bound amaized and wants to be part of this beautiful instrument.We must apart from the reconition, we must be  well compensated for our efforts,time and skills. I can only hope that this is the   case.Yours truely cousin,    

 

                                       I remain Yours Respectfully , 

                                                                               

                                                                               Stephen Diaz

 

                                                      

[e-mail]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cecil hinkson]

Stephen, loyalty to family is good.

[Gregory Lindsay]

Pan Times et al,

Thanks for the acknowledgement. I am being guided by your advice.

Right now there is another huge Bacchanalia brewing regarding nominations and delegates and bands being financial.

The thing is this; even though the Secretary of the Association is attempting to hold to the tenets of Article 10 of Pan Trinbago's Constitution.....the action being performed by the Secretary of the Association is ultra vires and illegal; as all bands that participated in Panorama 2012 are yet to be disbursed their band's appearance fees for taking part in the competition by Pan Trinbago, even though the Chairman of NCC has advised that all prize and appearance monies have been disbursed to Pan Trinbago since Carnival 2012..

So get this right, explain this to me Mr. Forteau et al,....how can all bands candidates and delegates not be financial according to Article 10 of Pan Trinbago's Constitution regarding Elections,and disbursement for appearance fees for Panorama not yet remitted to these very bands. Are the incumbents going to pay that out on Sunday morning while handing out annual reports before the Convention meeting.

The Outgoing Asst. Secretary Northern Region John Harris (my nomination for Asst. Secretary- Central) and all other candidates in the upcoming elections are being thrown out by a process that is being corrupted and convoluted and I will treat with it in a manner through the process of letters by tomorrow morning which shall be communicated first to Pan Trinbago via letter; on the basis of the precluded arguments, for an ultimate resolution to an immediate and full reinstatement of the list of candidates for the Convention electoral process on Oct. 28, 2012.

Failing that,....as my leader of orchestra says our vote shall do the talking.

Lets us all be advised.accordingly..Stay tuned.

Regards

Lindsay

[Gregory Lindsay]

See attached

Power Stars Official letter of Complaint to Pan Trinbago.pdf

[Gregory Lindsay]

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,167996.html

[Gregory Lindsay]

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-10-24/threat-stop-pan-trinbago-...

 

Please see the above link and Let us all be advised accordingly.

 

Regards

 

Lindsay