MEET THE CANDIDATES: KEITH DIAZ

[Claude Gonzales]

Keith Diaz of PanTrinbago

Keith Diaz has been involved in the Pan movement for decades, having been affiliated with several steelbands, including San Juan All Stars, Trinidad All Stars, Starlift and Desperadoes.

He became President of Pan Trinbago in 2009. Within one year of taking the reins, he was able to implement some of the promises in his manifesto, "Blueprint for Change - a Contract with Pan Stakeholders".

He has rebranded Pan Trinbago events with modern marketing; established a quarterly magazine; founded the Pan Tuners Guild, revived the observance of Steelband Month and widened the management capability of the organisation by sourcing the expertise of members of the business community.

Keith Diaz will go down in STEELBAND HISTORY as the VISIONARY who staged the first HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ICP  (International Conference and Panorama in 2015). University of the West Indies, St Augustine (UWI) pro vice chancellor and principal Prof Clement Sankat was the Patron of the ICP. The conference dealt with topics such as The History and Development of Pan, The Science of the Instrument and the Applications used, Recent Developments of the Instrument.

And concluded with an INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA with STEELBANDS coming from as far away as JAPAN and ENGLAND.

[Kweku D Thomas]

Accountability? whey allyuh talking about, the man thought this through of so he thought. Ok so how much would it cost to put on the ICP. Who would I invite to sit on the forum what should the agenda be like. They gave him $15m , he say $13m well the other $2m will be discussed at some other time, anyway for the love of pan, ah mean for the love of God the visionary saw not a Pan Headquarters but $13m. Greed, avarice, self serving and grandeur took over the man and he scuttled the planned HQ to satisfy his need for self gratification. And on top ah that the man still maintain that his was the only voice necessary in the Pan fraternity. He real brave boy. Keith Diaz should be nowhere near Pan Trinbago's leadership.For more than 10 years it is my belief that the growth and Organization of Pan in Trinidad and Tobago has suffered tremendously notwithstanding the likes of Duvonne Stewart, Liam Teague, Amrit Samaroo and others who we can look to in advancing the art form musically. We however need a new face a new voice a new vision at the helm. Let's get it right Panmen and Pan lovers

[odw]

PROMISES made, were PROMISES kept?

"He became President of Pan Trinbago in 2009. Within one year of taking the reins, he was able to implement some of the promises in his manifesto, "Blueprint for Change - a Contract with Pan Stakeholders".

Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come

[odw]

The Candidate/creator responsible for DRINK AH BEER VOTING SYSTEM. Delegates BEWARE!!!

From his CV... Diaz’s clever way“ of giving the players money, and collecting it the same night through the bar,
is an act he is proud of.

Heather MacIntosh - Headquarters

History: it was alleged that the UNC government gave to Pan Trinbago (Keith Diaz) the sum of $15 million. This money was used to stage the International Conference on Pan (2015). This was a "one-off" event.

Some felt that this money could have been used to complete the Pan Trinbago Headquarters on the highway at Trincity.

Diaz never denied receiving the money from the government. In an interview on i95.5 radio after the 2016 Carnival; he claimed that the sum he receive was $13 million.