Land for Shades In Steel steel orchestra; Politicians want to play Pan By Storm.
by Aquil Arrindell
Our group, through our hamper drives, has been continuously building bridges between local political representatives and the steel bands in their catchment areas. This week, we met with MP for Rio Claro/Mayaro, Mr Rushton Paray, Councillor for Marabella South/Vistabella, Mr. Marcus Girdharie and Councillor for Les Efforts West/La Romain, Mr Rishi Balramsingh. They have all contributed hampers for bands under their remit and have pledged to stay in contact with the bands for the development of the institutions and support for individuals that benefit through their involvement with the national instrument.
Mr. Jonathan Achaiba, member of our group and the coordinator for Southern branch, and committee member Mr. Chris Mohammed, both accompanied me to a meeting with the Rio Claro/ Mayaro MP Mr Rushton Paray. He admitted that he was familiar with the Rio Claro Koskeros, but no connections had been initiated between them. He was happy that we sought to make that connection and pledged to partner with them going forward. In Mayaro, there is the Cadenza Steel Orchestra, a band which has not participated in Panorama for the last 33 years and would like to in 2022. Because of the economic hardship the country is in due to the pandemic, he stated that he would help as far as his financial limitations would permit. Cadenza received a few hampers on that day and Rio Claro would receive a few more in the near future.
Councillor for Les Efforts West/La Romain, Rishi Balramsingh, said that the best lime one could experience is at Panorama semi-finals, branded the Savannah Party, but leading up to that, the energy at the CAL Skiffle pan yard during the carnival season builds his anticipation. Marabella South/Vistabella councillor, Marcus Girdarie, related that in his Pleasantville Senior school days, he started to learn the steel pan for Junior Panorama. He did not finish for one reason or the other but he made sure that through Mr Achaiba, his children learnt the instrument. All the politicians we visited, made a commitment to allow us to teach them a song on our national instrument. I suggested Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to start but Mr Girdharie ambitiously insisted on learning Professor Philmore’s Pan By Storm.
Our discussion took us to Shades In Steel’s present situation, of which he was unaware. Shades In Steel does not have a place to call home. According to Mr. Andy Bissessar, manager of the band, this has been their situation for quite a number of years. As a band that is continuously in the Panorama finals representing San Fernando, it is disheartening that it is taking so long for some relief. Mr Bissessar was grateful that Aquil Arrindell and his team made representation on his pan yard’s status through councillor Mr. Girdharie. Mr. Girdharie promised to meet with Mr. Bissessar to continue the process of finding a home for the band.
Land tenure and infrastructure is something our group is currently spearheading. Our second meeting to deal with a similar matter is carded for early next week. Our group has outgrown the brand of Aquil Arrindell as an individual and would now be operating under the banner of Pan Moving Forward (PMF). On behalf of (PMF) and the majority of the steel pan movement, thank you to all the politicians who reached out, through us and through others, to the steel bands. We are eternally grateful.
Where we lead others follow and the race is not for the swiftest but for those who can endure to the end.
Pan Moving Forward
Aquil Arrindell
Replies
It look as is PAN MOVING FORWARD doing all the work that BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE and PAN TRINBAGO should be doing. Doh tell meh that PAN GOING AND START TO PROGRESS AFTER ALL MY YEARS OF COMPLAINING ABOUT THE STAGNANCY OF THE MOVEMENT!!!