I don’t know which was worse—the hurt or the shock—hearing Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz bash the media on national television. It was during last Sunday’s National Panorama semifinals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, that Diaz was being interviewed on NCC TV (Ch 4) by Judith Laird, when he launched his anti-media attack. Suggesting that local media practitioners were a bunch of freeloaders, Diaz said the media were just about “freeness.” He proceeded to ask what tangible does the local media do for Pan Trinbago, adding that Pan Trinbago was in dire need of funding but the media were doing nothing to assist; instead just hitching a free ride at Pan Trinbago projects. I thought I’d heard wrong until my colleague, Bobie-Lee Dixon, exclaimed: “What is that he say? The media like freeness?”
It then sunk in that I’d heard correctly. Dixon is the reporter I’d assigned over a month ago to get an interview with the Pan Trinbago president about previous utterances made by Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Winston Peters on pan and Panorama. She reported back to me that Diaz had declined being interviewed, telling her, “the Guardian does only write s**t about Pan Trinbago.” To date, not a single member of the Pan Trinbago executive has acceded to Dixon’s request for an interview on the matter. When I told my Editor Suzanne Sheppard about Diaz’s comments, she asked: “Which Pan Trinbago? The same one we just paid money to the NCC for accreditation to cover Panorama? What freeness is Mr Diaz referring to?”
People in T&T will always lay claim to the Pan as "OUR" national, but unless its becomes an Emblem by an ACT of Parliment and not incoroporated as in the case of NCC,and Pantrinibago or Chutney, its an irony to our patriotism. Pan Trinbago must ensure that Pan become an Emblem of Trinidad and Tobago with more than these beauracies. Where is the ACT of Parliment that Proclaims the Steel Pan Our National Instrument?
Looks like what Boogsie been syaing all along is true, these jokers can't run a business, look at the PanTrinbago headquaters building incomplete, pan judging and panorama recordings no standards. Lets "Do Something For Pan."
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People in T&T will always lay claim to the Pan as "OUR" national, but unless its becomes an Emblem by an ACT of Parliment and not incoroporated as in the case of NCC,and Pantrinibago or Chutney, its an irony to our patriotism. Pan Trinbago must ensure that Pan become an Emblem of Trinidad and Tobago with more than these beauracies. Where is the ACT of Parliment that Proclaims the Steel Pan Our National Instrument?
Looks like what Boogsie been syaing all along is true, these jokers can't run a business, look at the PanTrinbago headquaters building incomplete, pan judging and panorama recordings no standards. Lets "Do Something For Pan."