Dear Mrs. Beverley Ramsey Moore,
In my official capacity as Pan Trinbago's No 1 Fan, I must compliment you on your initiative to keep all steelbands active during the year 2019. I foresee even more activity for functioning steelbands come 2020. The first year of your tenure in office has been marked with an increase in activity for steelbands across the length and breath of Trinidad and Tobago, and I know for a fact that it is not accidental. 2019 has been one of the most active year for functioning stage sides in the republic, and you must be complimented for singlehandedly championing this. As it relates to appearance fees agreed to between the organizers of the events and performing bands contracted to play, I must compliment you on demanding prompt disbursement by organizers.
It will be remiss of me if I fail to indicate, I have forgiven your education officer for his indiscretion as it relates to the CSEC scholarship scandal. I shall never forget his dishonesty, and his inclination to be economic with the truth.
However, as it relates to the subject, I beg of you madam to share with this forum your knowledge of the status of appearance fees agreed to between the organizers of the subject event and performing bands. My reason being that several band leaders from bands that have performed at the subject event over a period of time have been complaining to me, yes to me country bookie Russell Providence, venting their anger and frustration.
Big men as saying to me:
"Providence, dat show have big big sponsors who does underwrite de appearance fees fuh bands, and dat criminal eh paying, an hiding. It look like is only de President know how tuh contact 'im, and wey tuh fine 'im, because he band playing in the Komotion™ in Black Rock Saturday Night coming."
Dey saying:
"Providence, christmas coming again, and corporate Trinidad going an leggo more money on dese people an dey eh pay we fuh two (2) years now. Is only advantage tuh eat ah lil food, because if we talk, dey guh blank we, an de few towzen dollars we does make fuh dah engagement does full a lil hole, and does come 'enn good fuh some band fuh christmas."
Dey say:
"Providence, Aquil Arrindell band eh geh pay neider inno, buh he eh saying nutten, because he wuking, and he band gehing play out, he say he eh guh jeopardize he chances to play in De Rosa in 2019 fuh nutten." Dem fellas say, "Providence,Wey yuh could do fuh we?"
I say:
"I cyar do nutten."
So I am only being the messenger, sharing with you madam, and by extension this forum some of the rumblings among steelband leaders.
Thank you for your taking the time out to give this report some attention.
I want to take this opportunity to encourage all Tobagonians, persons resident in Tobago and those persons vacationing in Tobago over the coming weekend who are members of this forum to go/come out and support Katzenjammers Komotion™ at Black Rock in Tobago on the evening of Saturday 21st September 2019.
Yours respectfully,
Russell Providence
Pan Trinbago's #1 Fan.
Replies
When I see Aquil Arindell openly disagreeing with Claude Gonzales, I know there is hope. Whei I read of Marcus Ash sucking up to Claude Gonzales I see hopelessness, I see greed, I see selfishness.
The fact of the matter is that Marcus Ash LIED and never communicated to ALL member steelbands that CSEC (repeaters) scholarships were available.
When Pablo and Scobie threw Diaz in the bamboo, his dictatorship crumbled.
When Aquil disagrees with Clause Gonzales and Marcus Ash becomes fellatious it suggests fear of reprimand and wrong doing on Marcus Ash's part. He lied unapologetically Mr Gonzales, and you are hurting deserving youth from unsponsored country steelbands by propping up this puppet.
Today Aquil Arindell has earned my respect for speaking out, although he came out shakily when called out, he came out. It would serve the steelband fraternity's best interest if more band leaders would take Mr. Arindell's que and let the world,through this global forum know of the injustices that they are made to suffer because of the weaknesses that exist in the administrative structure of the world governing body for steelband.
P.S.
I want to ask LYING EO/PRO Marcus Ash to share with Claude Gonzales and this global forum what he knows of steelbands from Matelot and Steelband Competitions.
Take a bow Aquil, that's the way to go.
Mr. Arindell taking "Shake, and Duck" for his own money, while unswervingly maintaining his silence, quiet as a church rat.
Lol........you really want to hear me boy?
Ok, if someone asks about San City's business, I usually answer straight up because we have nothing to hide. However, we tend not to talk about our payment or non payment by promoters for different reasons, but mainly, to keep good relations.
But, as you are on a forum as prestigious as this, I must oblige, for at least this time. We have been paid for this year's Pan In The Rosa show. We are being owed for 2018 and the promoter would call every so often to assure me that he is trying the best he can to get that outstanding payment.
San City has about 70k outstanding for various shows and competitions, e.g. 2019 road competitions, 2016 junior panorama, appearance fees from panoramas, big pan show in Skinner park about three months ago, last pan in the countryside in Moruga and a few others. It is not our style to be hustling down promoters for money but the situation is taking a toll on the band, as every time the band goes out we have overheads that we pay for, hoping to be reimbursed by the promoters of the show.
As for promoters, we must take into consideration, they sometimes hold an event with the expectation to get the money from government, for gates receipt, or from the private sector but sometimes these promised assistances just don't work out so they to are left in a predicament. Ah mean, we need our moneys ASAP but if the man don't have it, all I can do is wait and pray that he get it.
So the boss, Mr. RP, I hope I satisfy you and this august body of WST's finest thinkers.
Mr. Aquil Arindell, your integrity is at stake here sir if you refuse to address this burning issue on this forum. You are full aware of the animosity non payment of appearance fees for the subject event is causing (Fact), has your band been paid for their appearances at Pan In D Rosa? As Basdeo Panday said, and I never expected to repeat that saying twice in one day, "Politics Has A Morality of Its Own", imagine a vocal steelband revolutionary like Mr. Arindell taking "Shake, and Duck" for his own money, while unswervingly maintaining his silence, quiet as a church rat.
Over to you sir.
o gad doye. lol.
Mr. RP, I love you too right.
pal, I quiet I my conner. way you interfering with me for sir?
I feel I will have to write some thing I put it out.
like I am being missed.
.
Mr. Arindell yuh "write" inno. Yuh feeding like parrot in de wild, quiet? Ah like how yuh thinking, as yuh ride or die Claude Gonzales reasoned recently, Critical thinking is what may be required to get to the bottom of the issues that originated in the Eastern Borough under the auspices of it's patron saint.
Meanwhile, is not Jericho dey looking for, and like he "eh day (or night)" neither.
But how come CECIL HINKSON eh saying nothing about this NEW CHARGE of EXPLOITATION against PAN PLAYERS. Ah hope that CECIL HINKSON is not on the BEVERLEY PAY ROLL as MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA for NORTH AMERICA.
It look like NUTTEN eh going RIGHT for BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE!!!
The EO/PRO playing smartman. LMAO