Chuma Watson indeed has an impressive educational background and résuméas an educator, panist and performing musician. He now looks to bring his experience and commitment to an office in Pan Trinbago. In addition, Chuma is open to all questions from anyone.
In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, Chuma Watson shares his views on the way forward and how he can contribute to the elevation of Pan in Trinidad and Tobago if he is elected vice chairman of the Northern Region.
WST - “Why is Chuma A.J. Watson uniquely suited for the position Vice President of the Northern Region of Pan Trinbago?”
Chuma Watson - “Simply based on my academic process, leadership skills, ethical practicing, a selfless mindset and being a part of the Pan Fraternity at heart.”
WST - “Can you give an example of how you would meet the challenge of new and developing technologies to enhance the causes of the Pan community?”
Chuma Watson - “First I would follow suit along with the central Excutive’s ten point plan, ethical procedures, focus on nunfuncitional and unsponsored bands on the way on forward by presenting examples of the phases of functioning bands past successful engagements, Steelpan’s present innovators throughout the world and university’s career academic development processes related to Steelpan. ”
WST - “In your Manifesto under - Steelband Community Development, Youth and Innovation - you raise the point of - Acknowledging and supporting productive programs and processes implemented by the regional steelbands, in their daily activities. Can you please provide an example of a program - in your eyes - that already merits such recognition?”
Chuma Watson - “In my eyes, the use of academic development programs, youth participation in various avenues such as; Pan Manufacturing, documentation, related goal orientation and career driven practical tools to keep the youths of the community preoccupied is a merit that would create a paradigm shift within the region and by extension, the Pan Fraternity. ”
Chuma Watson
WST - “What is the biggest challenge facing Pan Trinbago Northern Region going forward over the next two years? ”
Chuma Watson - “The biggest challenge within the region would be panyard security, social community development and steelpan’s history being an integral part within primary and secondary school curriculums.”
WST - “Should you be elected - when looking back to you being in the position of Vice President, Northern Region, years from now - what would you like to have been your greatest accomplishments?”
Chuma Watson - “If being elected as Vice Chairman years from now, I would like my accomplishments to be mainly surrounded by having a regional steelband encyclopedia being officially published, a database platform for all youth achievers to gain access with scholarship programs from the organization and having active Steelpan ethnomusicologist. ”
WST - “What does "Improving the social environment of steelbands" mean to you?”
Chuma Watson - “Improving the social environment of steelbands is simply strengthening the relationship with the band’s community. Creating a greater embrace towards parents acceptance of their children’s involvement within steelbands daily activities.
WST - “What would you like to see changed with the Panorama structure immediately?”
Chuma Watson - “I would like to see more youths getting the opportunity to arrange, the criteria of how judges are being picked, properly assessing the financial assistance and remittance fees. ”
WST - “What do opportunities and life for steel orchestras - outside of Panorama - mean to you?”
Chuma Watson - “It is of utmost importance to me because we need the youths to be activity preoccupied within the whole year. Panorama is just a competition known to the world but Steelpan is a golden asset which can create long term opportunities towards career development, innovation and global recognition. ”
WST - “Per your manifesto: "Recording and presenting the history and culture of the national instrument, with a view to raising national and global awareness" - what initiatives would you introduce to achieve this?”
Chuma Watson - “Encouraging the Pan Fraternity to actively get involve in ethnographic documentation, updating our media sites of steelband’s daily activities and making our history be an integral part of the school curriculums of Trinidad and Tobago. ”
WST - “It's no secret that the name "Pan Trinbago" is not top-ranking globally at the moment. What do you expect to have done to contribute toward the rejuvenation of the brand "Pan Trinbago"?”
Chuma Watson - “Rejuvenating the brand Pan Trinbago will simply be based on the external market, constitutional reform, youth and education. ”
WST - “What do opportunities and life for steel orchestras - outside of Panorama - mean to you?”
Chuma Watson - “It is of utmost importance to me because we need the youths to be activity preoccupied within the whole year. Panorama is just a competition known to the world but Steelpan is a golden asset which can create long term opportunities towards career development, innovation and global recognition. ”
Check out Chuma's resume and manifesto
Replies
Chuma
Can your region office holders operate operate outside of the central executives guidelines?
And if so, to what extent?
bugs
Chuma: I don't know anything about you so I am just judging from this posting. However, I am wondering why you are running for this Regional Vice President position when everything I gather from this presentation makes you seem like a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE to me. And I don't mean President of the Northern Region -- I mean PRESIDENT of PAN TRINBAGO.
You just seem to have the charisma and style that a MODERN DAY PRESIDENT of PAN TRINBAGO needs to have -- plus you have some decent credentials. Unless you are planning to use the election to this position as a stepping stone. But that would only stack you too deep in a long line of Presidential Wannabees.
So my advice to you is to re-evaluate your stock -- it seems to me that it is under-valued. Set your sights on running for PRESIDENT in 2021 and start planning your campaign from today.
I have one question for you, what do you mean when you say "to take advantage of the vast potential global opportunities"?
And on that question I will gladly read A LONG ANSWER!!!
Claude
Best of luck Chuma..
CHUMA, I WANT WISH YOU ALL THE BEST ON ELECTION DAY...GOOD LUCK!!