Trinidad and Tobago Newday
THE EDITOR: No entity should be permitted to evade public scrutiny and accountability, especially those that function using the people’s hard-earned money.
For Panorama 2016, Pan Trinbago received a $34 million free subsidy of our dwindling resources. I love pan and support a well managed and transparent pan subsidy, but the business of managing a $34 million subsidy is business.
It must be managed with skill and efficiency, especially when financed with diminishing taxpayers’ dollars. If the pan “business” is managed as a business, with accountability, that exorbitant subsidy could easily be reduced without affecting the quality of the festival.
Replies
Within the space of 12 months PAN TRINBAGO has been funded (I was told NOT to use the word "subsidize" but that Aboud fellah use it and nobody eh say nothing) to the tune of roughly $79,000,000 (SEVENTY NINE MILLION DOLLARS). Add to this the money they got from SPONSORS and we might well be looking at $100,000,000.
And, today, the organization is still FIVE MILLION DOLLARS in debt.
If you add the cost of salaries and office space and allowances to that $100,000,000 that is one hell of a price to pay to keep your VOTING BLOC happy -- when in truth and in fact they will vote for you ANYWAY.
Come on Dr. Rowley!!! Keep your promise and stop feeding this alligator!!!!
Pan Trinbago is subject to the court of "public opinion" which is a good thing because there is no opposition, now they have to worry about Pan People world wide watching their every move.
PAN TIMES: Add one of the recent forceful responses posted by DALTON NARINE on THIS FORUM (on this issue) to this letter to the editor and if the so-called "PAN LOVERS" on this forum can't find traction to launch a REVOLUTION against the corruption and inefficiency of PAN TRINBAGO then ALL IS LOST FOR PAN IN TRINIDAD and TOBAGO.