Maha Sabha: No pan
'One school approved for national instrument...'
By Julien Neaves
OPPOSITION MP Donna Cox has said only one school was approved to receive a set of steelpans since the new Government took office and the instruments were refused by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS).
"There was no other procurement and the expansion of the programme was effectively halted," she said....
...She said since May 2010 the pan in schools programme has been in "jeopardy". She criticised the Government on a number of issues regarding the programme: the contracts of many pan tutors had not been renewed and the National Junior Panorama competition had been faced with possible cancellation for the past two years; from April to May 2011 pan tutors were told to reapply for their jobs and there were no long term contracts; and the programme, which previously had an independent budget, now had to rely on the curriculum department for funding.
She said she was concerned about the "deafening silence" on the issue by Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz, former president and current National Carnival Commission chairman Patrick Arnold.
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Replies
Did the pans go to another school?
How all of a sudden that this former MP Donna Cox know that Pans in school will play an important in our children education, they could have make this happen,lets get real.
Curtis:
Yes Mr. Curtis!!! You are a man with an INDEPENDENT point of view. Refreshing to see!!!
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The steel pan is the only new melodic orchestral instrument invented in any century. The Steel Pan Instrument, created in Trinidad most symbolizes a community commitment to the Freedom of Expression. The Evolution of the Steel Drum as an instrument is a pioneering discovery and a groundbreaking invention, Its now a member of the family of musical instruments, it is quite obvious by the world-wide development in develop countries, where it is taught at public and private schools. In the Universities in Europe and US research and development programs are been mantained. It is sad to see the lack of recognition in the country where the only modern symphonic orchestral instrument was born. The Government and Pantrinibago maybe should look and Mister Mannette model of Steelpan Science and technology for the schools at the college level in T&T.
This is the result of a lack of empowerment after 50 years of PNM rule. Let's hear what Pantrinbago has to say about this for it is a deafening silence coming from the global organization for steelpan.
PanTrinbago is only interested in how much money they can beg for at Carnival time.I would like to know exactly
what is there mission. Total lack of respect for the National instrument by Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS).
These people see their selves as Indian first and Trinidadians& Tobagoians some where down the line.
People it is in the Panyard that " every creed and race find an equal place" Pan unite people.
The SDMS represents a large number of Hindus who live in Trinidad and Tobago whose first allegance is to an India that existed when their forefathers were brought here as indentured labourers. This group has now found itself having a large say in the politics of T&T. "Is their time now" best sums up how they veiw themselves today.
The group refuses to acknowledge pan as an indigenous musical instrument - T&T's national instrument - and has every intention to dilute its cultural and historic importance in our society. The group refuses to accept pan as being a musical instrument in its own right!
No amount of PR on the part of the government can hide the fact that under its stewardship pan will be treated as being a drum. Our Minister of Planning, Mr. Bhoe Tewarie, stated at the recently concluded SteelFesTT2012 conference that he/his government has plans to make T&T "the home of an international music industry" and our Minister of Education, Mr. Tim Gopeesingh, has obliged by scaling down the very successful pan-in-the-classroom project in favour of utilising other musical instruments, an option that was always in place!
I was amazed, dismayed, appalled and annoyed when I read of the SDMS refusal to engage pan in their schools unless certain conditions were met. The SDMS will no doubt want to receive government monetary subsidies but at the same time, ironically, they may be encouraged not to accept the national instrument in their schools.
It would not surprise me if the SDMS instructs the staff and pupils at their schools not to stand when the national anthem is played on pan.
Please support pan! It now represents more than a musical instrument. By not supporting pan you will be encouraging the rewriting of our history and the dilution of any further development of pan, the musical instrument, in Trinidad and Tobago.
WHAT????????????? John! John! Oh Henry!!! lmbao!!! Meh bredren, dey go crucify yuh on this WST site. Doh worry, this "N-word" got your back! But you BRAVE, boy. Ah hope yuh not living in that Rum an Roti Republic. If Anand only see this, yuh could expect to be water-boarded. Ah joking, but BE CAREFUL; the PP (Parata Party) people have dey agents on WST. Like SIDDS. I'm not joking when I say, I am truly sorry for the ex-slave African descendant in the country of my birth and citizenship (which I have not given up), who have to deal with this current clannish, racist, nepotistic, materialistic, alcoholic, corrupt, deceitful and dishonest government, and its supporters, including the "lick-bottom Africans", to whom Cro Cro referred. Shem Em Hotep.
GHOST
But Pan'tum, YOU may want to crucify me for this :-)
Racism should not be illegal. It is only an immoral notion not different to eating oneself to 500 lbs of obesity or playing russian roulette. If one violates another's rights (such as was done to Africans in slavery) or any other reason, then that action should be illegal. One individual should not be forced to tolerate any other for any reason. We each choose who we like, who we let into our home and SHOULD choose who we invite into our personal place of private business. If I choose not to hire a maid simply because she is Chinese, I should not be prosecuted for it. Conversely, I do not want to be hired because of my race but because of my ability and I know that it would be an injustice to my own development if the race card is all that I needed to gain employment.
Just as between Africans and Indians in Trinidad, there was an historic feud in NY between the Irish and the Italians. It would be common to see in the classifieds "the Irish need not apply" for Italian jobs. However the Gov't did not allow one tribe to systematically shackle the other nor force one to hire the other. They were left to earn their livings through trade. When riots broke out as they commonly did, they were both hauled off in Paddy Wagons (named after the Irish) to jail. But they were left to their commerce. Open competition in the marketplace is how they evolved. And today, who cares if you're either?
Indian descendants should be legally entitled to shun anything that they do not want in their culture. Again, refusal of the gift stolen for you is not the crime.
It is unjust to apply government force in any racial direction. Love cannot be created at gun point and we should stop pretending that it can be.
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