The following email was forwarded to me by a steelband leader, who informed me that many other steelband leaders are in receipt of this correspondence originating with Aquil Arrindell.
Pan Trinbago’s Leadership, take a page from Dr. Keith Rowley.
By Aquil Arrindell.
I have been working privately in a supervisory position with an organization that is responsible developing music programmes with the steel pan as the primary instrument. The majority of employees I supervise are panists. My involvement in pan, as a youth, through pan yard education and as an adult, through formal education, (I obtained my Bachelor’s degree at the University of the West Indies), made communicating with people in different spheres of the steel pan movement easy. We occasionally gather on our off time to talk pan and pan politics. When we are in that zone, we are all equals and that even applies to managers who are senior to me. In one of those conversations, a question was asked to one of the managers, on what he thought of the executive of Pan Trinbago using Covid as a reason for lack of performance and does he think we should not have an election because of Covid. The manager, a panist and arranger himself, responded with the scenario of Dr. Keith Rowley holding a National Election during this Covid season. He not only held an election but, he won, because of Covid. The latter of the two answers confused us. With looks of bewilderment on all of our faces, he proceeded to elaborate. He pointed out that the sitting government was extremely unpopular at the time of pre-Covid. It looked like we would have a regime change but weeks into the pandemic the nation started to change their thoughts. Dr. Keith Rowley managed the country throughout this world crisis at that time with a great level of proficiency. The senior officer then summed up that thought by saying “Great leaders emerge out of crises”. We continued to debate, and again our manager strengthened his case by comparing Pan Trinbago to us. Our mandate is to deliver quality music education. Our stakeholders don’t deserve to hear excuses. As an organization, and under these circumstances, we had to find a way to deliver. Thus, new ways of operation were needed. Our leaders, through research and technology, developed solutions and we implemented them. All organizations, in that first year of the pandemic, did just that, why not Pan Trinbago? I keep saying that Pan Trinbago is not the ten people on the executive. Pan Trinbago is the membership. However, the membership cannot implement solutions without properly constituted meetings. The responsibility lies in the hands of the executive, to find a way to deliver what they are mandated to, through our electoral process. I am cognizant of the fact that the executive would not have all the answers. So again, I am saying to you the executive, reach out to your members. Let us be a part of the solution and not the problem. Let us help get the organization up with the times. Let us give advice based on our experiences and what is happening with us at our places of work or the different organizations that we operate at, with a high level of competency and efficiency under these circumstances. Let us share with you how we organized ourselves, even to have successful elections so that the membership can re-elect the executive for the outstanding work you would do towards allowing the membership to exercise their democratic right to choose their leader tri-annually, according to the constitution. In conclusion, I would advise, that the organization’s PRO be the only officer posting or sharing on behalf of organization on any social media platform. Messaging must be from a place of intellect and not emotion. The president must approve all messages. Each officer has a mandate, according to the constitution. If officers insist that they have to speak on Facebook, it would be more beneficial to their Facebook campaign, that they speak to how much they have accomplished as it relates to what they were elected to do. It would also be helpful to show the results of their labour towards achieving Pan Trinbago’s overarching goals which are yet still to be communicated to our membership. I am suggesting that if you all want advice on how to run Pan Trinbago, reach out. Here is a list of a names of a few great minds in the pan movement, all of whom could be helpful to you: Bryan Serrette, Nestor Sullivan, Keith Byer, Russel Providence, Duvone Stewart, Makesi Joseph, Oswald Alexander, Glenroy Joseph, Nubia Williams, Selwin Willams, Alison Dyer, Bertrand Kelman, Jeannine Remy, Kendall Lewis, Junia Regrello, Franka Headley, Michael Marcano, Ainsworth Mohammed, Andre Moses, Denis Philips, Robert Amar, Daisy James McClean, Lawford Dupre, Clary Ben, Winston Nicholas, Richard Forteau, Mark Austin, Sala Wilson, Brian Smart and Patrick McKay.
Pan Trinbago’s servant
Aquil Arrindell
This is how I will reply to Aquil Arrindell independently, and openly:
Dear Mr. Arrindell,
I want to take this opportunity to publicly reply to you, by separating your EMAIL progressively, and replying appropriately and honestly.
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I have been working privately in a supervisory position with an organization that is responsible developing music programmes with the steel pan as the primary instrument. The majority of employees I supervise are panists. My involvement in pan, as a youth, through pan yard education and as an adult, through formal education, (I obtained my Bachelor’s degree at the University of the West Indies), made communicating with people in different spheres of the steel pan movement easy.
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We occasionally gather on our off time to talk pan and pan politics. When we are in that zone, we are all equals and that even applies to managers who are senior to me. In one of those conversations, a question was asked to one of the managers, on what he thought of the executive of Pan Trinbago using Covid as a reason for lack of performance and does he think we should not have an election because of Covid.
(REPLY: non performance of the incumbent executive predates the pandemic. Covid is no excuse for their refusal to account to account to the membership. Have they convened an AGM since assuming office? No. They held panorama 2019 where panmen received no remitances. They held part of panorama 2020 in 2019, another part in Tobago and another part in Port of Spain and to date has not accounted for their stewardship since assuming office.)
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The manager, a panist and arranger himself, responded with the scenario of Dr. Keith Rowley holding a National Election during this Covid season.
(REPLY: constitutionally Rowley could have held out a bit longer, but that timing may have been bad)
He not only held an election but, he won, because of Covid. The latter of the two answers confused us. With looks of bewilderment on all of our faces, he proceeded to elaborate. He pointed out that the sitting government was extremely unpopular at the time of pre-Covid. It looked like we would have a regime change
(REPLY: I disagree. If the person making this prediction lives or works in or around the city, they may have been influenced by; 1. The UNC organized protests across the city. 2. The politicizing by the opposition of the unfortunate death of the young Beetham mother during those protests 3. The death of Rebel 6, and the alleged meeting of persons alleged to be affiliated to gangs. This may have fooled some people into thinking that “Town (meaning T&T) gone against the PNM” as was the case when the PNM lost to the NAR in 1986 and to the PP in 2010.)
but weeks into the pandemic the nation started to change their thoughts. (REPLY: The nation did not change their thoughts. The gentleman may have been influenced by Kamla’s talk about making headway in the east west corridor)
Dr. Keith Rowley managed the country throughout this world crisis at that time with a great level of proficiency. (REPLY: Regrettably, Pantrinbabo’s president did not manage anything. She was dormant at home in Tobago)
The senior officer then summed up that thought by saying “Great leaders emerge out of crises”.
(REPLY: The cards were stacked in Rowley’s favor to retain the government. He led from the front, and made executive decisions that benefitted the entire nation, and not his support base. The opposition came out of the blocks stumbling - 1. with Wade Mark making a case for bars, puncheon and lime in the senate. 2. Kamla saying on TV that the sun is good for COVID. 3. The opposition’s refusal to permit Bhoe Tewarie’s to join a bipartisan committee to advise the government. 4. Scorn at Vasant Bharat’s enthusiasm to work with Rowley’s team. They are not exactly in Beverley’s favor, who is not leading from the front, and refuses to make the executive decisions that will benefit the entire membership.)
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We continued to debate, and again our manager strengthened his case by comparing Pan Trinbago to us.
(REPLY: I do not see a strengthened case, I see contrasting statements)
Our mandate is to deliver quality music education. Our stakeholders don’t deserve to hear excuses. As an organization, and under these circumstances, we had to find a way to deliver. Thus, new ways of operation were needed. Our leaders, through research and technology, developed solutions and we implemented them. All organizations, in that first year of the pandemic, did just that, why not Pan Trinbago?
(REPLY: Your team got together and agreed. Pantrinbago’s leadership was disagreeing, and disgruntled. Incapable of understanding their bankruptcy, they failed to engage the support of stakeholders in the fraternity to manage the crisis and rode the wave of Panograma and Ramajay either of which are theirs. No one in the leadership was fertile enough to come up with anything remotely similar to engage the membership. Rowley engaged the knowledge and experience of suitably qualified and experienced professionals)
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I keep saying that Pan Trinbago is not the ten people on the executive. (REPLY: Article 7 Structure. Part B Central Executive Committee may more than likely give them sweeping powers)
Pan Trinbago is the membership. However, the membership cannot implement solutions without properly constituted meetings.
(REPLY: This is what I meant by Putting forward consensual suggestions coming out of dialogue with membership for consideration in one of my recent posts)
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The responsibility lies in the hands of the executive, to find a way to deliver what they are mandated to, through our electoral process.
(REPLY: They should as enshrined in Article 7 Structure. Part A General Body. However, Part B of this same Article gives them the latitude to let’s say, “act responsibly” at their discretion)
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I am cognizant of the fact that the executive would not have all the answers (REPLY: neither would you or any successive executive).
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So again, I am saying to you the executive, reach out to your members. Let us be a part of the solution and not the problem. Let us help get the organization up with the times. Let us give advice based on our experiences and what is happening with us at our places of work or the different organizations that we operate at, with a high level of competency and efficiency under these circumstances.
Let us share with you how we organized ourselves, even to have successful elections so that the membership can re-elect the executive for the outstanding work you would do towards allowing the membership to exercise their democratic right to choose their leader tri-annually, according to the constitution.
(REPLY: The above does not make much sense to me, although I may not have fully understood the essence of what you may have been attempting to communicate)
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In conclusion, I would advise, that the organization’s PRO be the only officer posting or sharing on behalf of organization on any social media platform. Messaging must be from a place of intellect and not emotion. The president must approve all messages. Each officer has a mandate, according to the constitution. If officers insist that they have to speak on Facebook, it would be more beneficial to their Facebook campaign, that they speak to how much they have accomplished as it relates to what they were elected to do.
(REPLY: I suspect that there may be some standard protocol, or constitution based protocol in place to guide this process. As a former insider you should be knowledgeable of how this usually works. I do not believe that ARTlCLE 9 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS A. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. 6 THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER is quite clear on this. Additionally the constitution does not appear to have considered social media platforms as separate and apart from print and electronic media, that may have more control as it relates to what is published and what is not)
It would also be helpful to show the results of their labour towards achieving Pan Trinbago’s overarching goals which are yet still to be communicated to our membership.
(REPLY: this too should be influenced by the statutes enshrined in the constitution, and the mandate of the act of parliament which ratifies pantrinbago’s existence)
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I am suggesting that if you all want advice on how to run Pan Trinbago, reach out. Here is a list of a names of a few great minds in the pan movement, all of whom could be helpful to you: Bryan Serrette, Nestor Sullivan, Keith Byer, Russel Providence, Duvone Stewart, Makesi Joseph, Oswald Alexander, Glenroy Joseph, Selwin Willams, Alison Dyer, Bertrand Kelman, Kendall Lewis, Junia Regrello, Franka Headley, Michael Marcano, Ainsworth Mohammed, Andre Moses, Denis Philips, Robert Amar, Lawford Dupre, Clary Ben, Winston Nicholas, Richard Forteau, Mark Austin, Sala Wilson, Brian Smart and Patrick McKay.
(REPLY: Too many men. There are too many leaders and thinkers with more than a passive interest in pan who are women, to not include the fairer sex more equitably in this make up)
Pan Trinbago’s servant
Aquil Arrindell
Yuh country bookie bredrin.
.
Replies
Thanks for your insight Mr. Russel providence.