Pantrinbago / Tuesday, November 29, 2016
/ Categories: Public Relations Officer
PAN TRINBAGO ADDRESS TO ALL ITS STAKEHOLDERS , SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS ON ITS PRESENT PREDICAMENT
Steelpan, oh what an invention, it should be the pride of our nation, but what ah seeing, lord it have mih grieving, why is the Steel bands still suffering? (Merchant 1985)
Established in 1949, for over sixty years the Steelpan fraternity have been evolving and reinventing itself in a way that is a marvel to many. From Sydney Gallop, our first president, right through to Keith Diaz, every executive and president have been maliciously accused of mismanagement and corruption. Every Steel band leader have been accused of robbing the players of the band. The executive of STEELBANDS have been made to operate in a most hostile environment throughout its eveloution. Yet, in spite of all the negatives, the movement kept on rising to establish its presence as the world governing body for the Steelpan instruments.
Men and women have sacrificed and invested their time and efforts to shake off the negatives stigma, and contribute towards the development of a strong and resourceful organization that is Pan Trinbago today. There will always be challenges, both external and internal, like all other institutions including the family. But this only served to make the institution stronger. Because of resistance, resilience and true grit, the image was changed from BAD JOHNS, to STEELPAN SCIENTIST and MUSICOLOGIST, creating an industry that is taking the world by storm, with the potential to attract enormous amounts of foreign exchange to our blessed twin Island nation.
The present executive under the leadership of brother Keith Diaz, have embarked on an industrial, commercial and globalization thrust which is slowly but surely taking shape and getting off the ground. Only now to be distracted by an over ambitious individual who swears to stop at nothing to have his own way. He is not the first, and certainly would not be the last. But his malicious and reckless allegations are doing untold damage to the fabric of the organization that he has an obsession with wanting to lead.
He has accused the president of mismanagement and wastage, claiming that for things to improve, the president must leave, resign and pass on the leadership to him. Realizing that he was on his own with that position, he took to the position that some of the executive members together with the president must go. Today he is saying that the whole executive must demit office so that he can fix all the ills of the Steelpan movement. Is he a magician, or is he suffering from some sort of dementia?
Pan Trinbago prides itself with being one of, if not the only and oldest democratic grass root organization in the Caribbean, and it caters for the ambitions of all its members, by holding elections for officers every three-years. The membership are the ones with the power to elect its leaders at a convention held for that purpose. All members with such ambition must stand the scrutiny of their peers in order to be elected to office. It is not something that a present office holder can give or pass on to another.
Pan Trinbago presents an audited statement of accounts to its membership, and copies are sent by the secretary to the line ministry and other relevant agencies as soon as it is ratified and passed at its annual conference held for that purpose once a year. All allegations of misappropriation and corruption made by the former vice president who served for over seven years, are malicious, unfounded and unfortunate.
Pan Trinbago was never in the habit of conducting its internal affairs in the public domain, but this prevailing situation give rise to us having to place the facts before the world, to eliminate all the misconceptions created by a mischievous individual.
(1) Pan Trinbago’s executive or its president at no time imported or tried to import two high end vehicles for use by individuals or organisation.
(2) Pan Trinbago is not operating within a deficit of thirty million dollars created through corruption or mismanagement. As a matter of fact, the relationship with governments over the years have always placed the organization in a deficit position coming out of the national festival. This is kept to a minimum by servicing during the year, through our many fund raising activities.
(3) The Keith Diaz regime that took office in 2009, inherited debts that had to be serviced in order to stabilize the organization. National insurance and Health Surcharge that was never paid by previous regimes, had to be addressed to bring the staff in line with common practice. This was done at a cost of 1,300,000.00 dollars.
(4) A debt of over 1,034,000. dollars were carried on the books of the organization for over ten years, coming out of a Caribbean Steel band competition held in Grenada in 2001,where it was said that some Caribbean governments were on board to take care of the expenses. This never materialized, and Pan Trinbago was left holding the tabs.
(5) In 2013, the then minister of Culture had given the assurance that his ministry would provide the necessary funding for our national Steel band music festival “ PAN IS BEAUTIFUL 12. Only to start dancing away after the fact, until he and his regime demitted office, leaving the organization holding the tab.
(6) The world conference and Panorama that was held in 2015, which had such a significant impact on our nation, was another project that left the organization in dire financial straights in spite of its contributions. After the blueprint and a budget for thirty million dollars was submitted, and favorable and encouraging response was received from the government, Pan Trinbago went ahead and engaged the Steelpan world. At the very last minute, government committed to only half the cost, which was fifteen million dollars. And I can go on and on to show that the deficit that Pan Trinbago is working assiduously to reduce, did not come about through mismanagement or corruption, but was fostered on us by deception.
(7) The players remittance that is still outstanding to date, is on account of untimely releases by the relevant authorities. Having experienced an unexpected increase in the number of Tobago Steel bands for panorama 2016. Pan Trinbago informed the relevant authorities that there is a shortfall of 2.7 million dollars which was taken from the reduced budget to pay for the accommodations of our Tobago contingent. To this date, it is still outstanding.
(8) Pan Trinbago received the outstanding five million dollars which was the balance of its 2016 allocations minus the 2.7 million dollars on the 28th of October 2016. This cannot satisfy full payment of the player’s remittance. We are making every effort at negotiations for the shortfall.
Pan Trinbago takes its mandate very seriously, and frowns on anyone try to bring its good name and the members of its hard working executive into public odium and disrepute. We have our challenges as all other. But we have always served the best interest of those who voted us into office. The organization cannot be accused of corruption if two misguided workers are found selling complimentary tickets at panorama, or letting people pass through a back gate for a fee. Those are matters that would always be dealt with in our domestic settings.
Pan Trinbago Inc. T.C, has now established a drum assembly factory that is producing a special type of drum for the instruments, and saving the Tuners from the chemically poisonous drums of the past. Outside of the global thrust, a number of initiatives are in the pipeline that is geared towards our self-sufficiency. Distractions by one over ambitious individual cannot and would not be allowed to impede progress as we continue to build a strong and economically successful Steelpan Industry to the benefit of our members and country.
Pan Trinbago remains an ambitious and progressive organization that is intent on building an image that reflects its status as the World Governing Body for the Steelpan. Any and all assets acquired by the organization is geared toward such end.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael L Joseph
PUBLIC Relations Officer
Pan Trinbago Inc.
T.C
Replies
Your detailed response emphasizes a relationship with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago that is not working in Pan Trinbago's favor. There will be much less $$ available to Pan Trinbago than ever before in 2017. Why isn't there a more concerted and sustained effort to operate without funding from the government?
Further, this uproar emerging from Mr Serrette's accusations demonstrates that Pan Trinbago has lost goodwill from the many pan supporters out there.
Many of us do not believe that Mr Diaz can take the organization forward. There is the perception of too many errors and an attitude that says that Pan Trinbago is too dependent on the government.
Pan Trinbago has to present many more details on the accusations for the interested stakeholders to truly know what has happened,
Lance Dowrich
Jason John Im yet to see pantrinbago do anything appropriate for steelpan, with a strategic mindset and a long term goal in mind..
Almost everything pantrinbago does is short sighted or poorly organized. (MOST TIMES atleast)
I'm sorry but I really think the board members need to be removed, not for anything other than its time for a change, its times for new ideas and some new initiatives. I mean no malice but I also think they should hire qualified individuals to hold key positions.
When you are accountable for such large portions of tax payers money, its only wise to have someone that CAN BE held accountable and also someone who holds the necessary academic qualifications + work experience.
Like I said I mean no disrespect to any of them who currently hold these positions but what academic qualifications and work experience does (for example) Keith Diaz have prior to becoming the President of PanTrinbago?
This is important because it requires some form of strategic leadership...something I've seen pantrinbago lacking..EVER since...Responses --
In his own words...
Anytime you want to be a great manager, try and run a steelband. When you finish, you can run any organization in the world” (Diaz*).
Why do you think the steelbands keep voting him back into office. That's all they know, they can't expect anything better. Hopefully they'll prove me wrong.
Good observation. This could be a window of opportunity here, time for the younger generation to take charge.
MR PRSIDENT, WHY DONT YOU TAKE THE $5,000,000.00 THAT YOU HAVE RECEIEVED FROM THE "GOVERNMENT "AND DIVIDE IT INTO THE AMOUNT OF PAN PEOPLE THAT IS AWAITING THEIR PAYMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN PANORAMA"2016".?.. E:G $5.000.000.00 DEVIDED BY "X AMOUNT".= PAYMENT FOR EACH PLAYER, CHRISTMAS IS COMING "VERY SOON" AND THE PLAYERS NEED THEIR MONEY TO BUY GIFTS FOR THEIR LOVE ONES.!!! (THINK ABOUT IT).......
Mr Joseph, social media gave the ordinary pan person ah voice, any organization that represent steelpan/band in the Mecca will be held accountable to the court of public opinion.
Thanks to www panonthenet com for creating a balance. We tend to be the only people in the world that plot, wishes and rejoice in each others downfall. We feel a sense of accomplishment, while being entertainment for others further advanced in self. That passion for self destructiveness. Will it ever end? Thanks!
But Mr. Joseph
Is it not Pan Trinbago who is accusing Pan Trinbago of wrong doing?
Is it not Pan Tinbago who betrayed it members in the most embarrassing of ways publicly, when it failed to safeguard the pay of the players?
Mr. Joseph, after watching how Pan Trinbago has operated for the past few years, would you invest your children's money in Pan Trinbago?
Based on your own report Mr. Joseph, if you were a bank, museum, hospital, gym, ice cream truck, fish market, investment banker or even a funeral home - you would have to be shut down.
Mr. Joseph you are the PRO of Pan Trinbago. I have seen all sorts of unflattering things being said about Pan Trinbago on social media by the pan players. Mr. Joseph would you not admit that Pan Trinbago can't and doesn't represent the interest of the players?
Take a look below at what one of the Trinidad and Tobago players posted on his facebook page while talking not getting his pay from Pan Trinbago.
At the end of the day is not Pan Trinbago who is pointing at Pan Trinbago?
bugs
Mr. Joseph: Some time ago I sent PRESIDENT DIAZ an email telling him that if he wanted EQUAL TIME on WST I would represent his position if he sent me the facts that he wanted to express. I never got a response.
Mr. Joseph: In May of this year I sent the TRUMP CAMPAIGN (to his son ERIC at the the New York address) a winning strategy to beat HILLARY and I got a response from them complete with bumper sticker and humility -- little old insignificant me!!!
But your BOSS was too busy to even bother to respond from his LITTLE KINGDOM. Now that he is in TROUBLE you are begging for mercy. Give me a break!!!
Let him take all the LICKS he getting now. And I hope he gets more!!!
PAN PLAYERS WILL NOT BE GETTING PAID FOR PANORAMA 2016. Lets get that out of the way now.
Well, well, well...
This seems to be much more than a lovers quarrel now. This document is now in the public domain. Pan Trinbago is now saying we are innocent of all wrong doing and if we go down others will be going down with us.
What it interesting is what was known, when it was known and who knew it.
This move of Pan Trinbago suing Pan Trinbago and having the Pan Players pay for it is beyond something even the Grinch would do.
Pan children hold on to your Christmas presents tight.
bugs
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