Open letter to the Caribbean Community from Anthony “Ike” Hinds of Dem Stars Steel Orchestra and National Alliance of Steelbands (NAS)
New York, USA - ...For nearly 40 years, on the Saturday before Labor Day nearly a thousand of our family, friends and neighbors, the vast number aged 12 to 21, compete in the Steelband “Panorama” competition. This competition is the culmination of weeks of work, as bands prepare for “ten minutes of glory” onstage performing an orchestral musical composition in front of thousands of spectators.
....Facts are facts: the ten bands who competed in last year's event are still owed a combined $52,000 from unpaid prizes, money sorely need to prepare for this year's competition. This sum is comprised of $2,000 unpaid appearance fees for each of the ten bands that appeared at Panorama 2011 ($20,000) and a combined $32,000 unpaid balance of prizes due the top three bands.
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Toronto, Ontario
Canada
4:25 p.m.
Good afternoon to all.
Stand firm CASYM and do not move one inch until your demands are met...My band know the heat of dem kinda battles that you are standing in the breach for Business is business.Take care of the players and the attendant costs through prudent contract adminstration, EVERYTHING else will take care of itself....So that players can focus on execution of the arranger's music.
In 2009, Power Stars had to sit out Panorama on account of an inability to cover costs for the campaign. It was bitter and tragic medicine for us but it transformed us into a better organization. In Toronto right now for Caribana..looking forward to Pan Alive on Friday...Next stop On my way to NYC....for a panorama I hope...Stand Firm!
mgr.psso.gl
Another message from Mr. Hinds:
More Facts are Facts:
It is with great sadness that I inform the steelband community that four-time Panorama Champion CASYM has withdrawn from Panorama 2012.
CASYM, a perennial contender for the championship, finished second in Panorama 2011. As such they were due a prize of $15,000 along with the appearance fee of $4,500. Along with first place ADLIB and third-place Radoes, CASYM received
a partial payment of $5,000 from WIADCA some months ago. Previously they had received a partial appearance fee payment of $2,500. Consequently, CASYM was owed a total of $12,000 for 2011.
Conversations with CASYM members indicate that the band simply could not manage the expenses of Panorama 2012 without receiving the balance of funds owed them for 2011. With the cost of arranger fees, tuner fees, uniforms, equipment and
panyard rent looming, CASYM made a tragic and bitter decision.
CASYM is the first victim of WIADCA's financial reality.
This is the action which should be taken to force WIADCA to come up with the outstanding payments. Steelbands got to make sacrifices to progress. If you go to Panorama this year, prepare for more of the same. Time for the ole talk to stop. I hope the other steelbands follow CASYM'S lead.
I look forward to the Panorama each year, but this cannot continue. Year after year steelbands are getting short changed and yet they return. You all got to be IDIOTS!!!
STAND FIRM!!!
Yes they need to stand firm and boycott the panorama, but PAN is a funny thing, years ago growing up, we used to beat pan every year, and never get pay, the captain and the arrangers used to keep the money, and we always say, we ain't going back next year, the next year come and we back in the same mess, Pan is a JUMBIE
Maybe there wasn't as much money there as we thought back then, Bede.
Money was the reason we broke off from Southern Marines and formed Scarlet Symphony.
Looking back, I have to think there was a lot less thievery than we thought.
Apart from the costs incurred in running a steelband even back then, there probably was also some sloppy accounting.
Also many of us were casual panists, but the serious pan people lived in the panyard, and they had to eat.
I'm not trying to excuse any chicanery that may have occurred back then.
I'm just saying that looking back, it may not have been as widespread as we thought.
Mr. Hinds why are you try to use CASYM in you Hate for WIADCA. You do not represent CASYM so why the hell are you writing this shit on this post about us. I am Tired of you kind of people who write dum shit like this on these forum. CASYM not going to Panorama this year have nothing to do with what you are talking about SMH. What is you problem, every time you do not get your way, you run and go start your own thing. If you think by trying to rub WIADCA name in the mud is going to make think better in the pan world, you are so wrong all you are doing is brining down Pan in NY. I am one who is tired of it.
FORUM, Is MR Hinds using CASYM in his hate for WIADCA? (ACCORDING TO DVINCY)
First and foremost I want to say that I am very disaapointed in this situation - regardless of who is at fault. I plan on attending the New York Panorma for my first time this year and hope that it will live up to its history. I've been to the Panorama in Port of Spain and thoroughly loved it.
I don't know the reason as to why CASYM is not attending, but I find it hard to believe that it is not in some way linked to the fact that they have not been paid for 2011. There may be other reasons as well, but it takes money to run any organization. I do not know Mr. Hinds nor do I expect to ever meet him, but it is obvious that he is articulate and willing to take a leadership role. His messages have been heartfelt and I am sure intended to keep everyone informed as well as to help rectify the situation.
The organizers of this festival are obviously sufferring from the effects of the recession and as a result, having difficulty in finding the funding to continue the cause.
What can we do to help?
Dvincy,
Let's forget about Ike for just a moment...
Can you please be honest and tell us why CASYM is not participating in this years Panorama? You can see that Michael L. Wilson has also asked the same question.
thanks,
GP
Then why is CASYM not participating in the second largest Pan event in the world?
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