To: Marcus Ash, Education Officer Pan Trinbago.
CC: Ms.Beverly Ramsey-Moore, President of Pan Trinbago.
BCC: Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Culture; Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education.
Dear Mr. Marcus Ash,
in your capacity as education officer of Pan Trinbago, please permit me to publicly share something with you:
Firstly, I would suspect that MOST CHILDREN 15, 16, 17 years old may still be in school attempting the CSEC (CXC) examination for the first time, especially those who may not have been successful at the SEA in their first attempt, and those who may have been born in the latter half of the year.
Secondly, If this "OPPORTUNITY" is for the benefit of members of the fraternity, why is the fraternity not being informed publicly on the number of spaces that are available? Why are there limited spaces, and how limited are the spaces for the benefit of the public 10, 35, 68, 92, 127 available spaces?
Thirdly, Is this evidence of the fact that CHILDREN in steelbands (outside of their school bands) may not be doing as well academically as children who are not involved in steelbands?
To put the icing on the cake, why would you send this out on 02 September 2019, and expect a favorable response NO LATER THAN 04 SEPTEMBER 2019? So in less than 48 hours you expect maximum participation, or blame it on the members of steelbands for not responding in a timely manner?
As in the vane of World Steelpan Day It seems that you and the president are now being motivated by Vikey Vieism & Now Fuh Nowism!
Yours respectfully,
Russell Providence.
Replies
We panmen who are resident in Trinidad and Tobago, and are members of steelbands that are bonafide financial members of Pan Trinbago in good and regular standing, must never forget that Pan Trinbago's EO/PRO in September 2019 deliberately withheld information from member bands, and selectively disseminated information of the organization's award of CSEC Repeater Scholarships to members who meet the requirements.
Below is further evidence of Mr. Ash's faux pas as described by another band leader, actions he has denied on this forum in "Pan Trinbago Poop Turns to MANURE!"
More band leaders must speak out if this injustice is not to be repeated.
I have been overwhelmed with calls and messages from angry steelband leaders who are only now learning that Pan Trinbago is offering twenty (20) scholarships to deserving teenagers and young adults who are members of bands affiliated with the organization between the ages of 15 - 20, after those twenty (20) scholarships have been awarded.
Many are angry as they were never given the opportunity to put forward names from their bands
Marcus Ash you are a liar;
I want to state publicly and categorically to those band leaders who are fearful of the backlash from Pan Trinbago if they speak out, and have been suggesting to me privately that this matter be taken further as I have their support, that I have absolutely no interest in that regard, ask Nestor Sullivan and Eden Charles.
I did what I had to do to, sensitize the public on this global forum, and my job is done. The ball is now in Marcus Ash's court to defend the indefensible, and structure his releases for the benefit of the entire steelband fraternity, and not for the favored minority.
I AM FLATTERED THAT THIS DISCUSSION HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND (1000) VIEWS IN LESS THAN TWENTY FOUR (24) HOURS.
Dear Mr. Ash,
You then attempted to play smart with stupidness.
This is what you wrote;
"Firstly, your suspicion of children who are between the ages of 15-17 still being in school attempting CXC for the first time is baseless as there was 1 applicant fifteen years of age,"
*One applicant 15 years old is evidence of the fact that the majority of 15 year olds are still in school*
You were given a cake, and you shared that cake as you saw fit, you invited whom you chose to come to the table to have a piece.
Did Scherzando come on board on Monday 02 September 2019?
Your response is inimical and autocracy, you erred and was forced to correct those errors publicly, and on a forum where you did not share the deficient information initially.
I called you out and forced a response out of you, that is the icing on the cake.
Allyuh really think that BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE care about all dem things allyuh writing about?
And ah doh like allyuh BLAMING MARCUS ASH!!!
Maybe BEVERLEY was in TOBAGO for a while and she did not come back in time to release the announcement in RUSSELL PROVIDENCE TIME. Allyuh think that MARCUS or DENISE could just show INITIATIVE and send out the announcement without BEVERLEY MICROMANAGING THE PROCESS?
Allyuh VOTE for BEVERLEY but allyuh DOH KNOW BEVERLEY for truth!!! That woman is OBSESSED with POWER!!!
She could fool people like dem TRIVIAL MINDSETS -- but she cyar FOOL ME!!!
And I doh know why it take 10 MONTHS for people to figure BEVERLEY OUT when I have been on MY PULPIT preaching my ANTI-BEVERLEY SERMONS since September of 2018.
Don't blame MARCUS ASH!!! Blame BEVERLEY RAMSEY-MOORE!!!
The above three (3) questions is not rocket science. Maybe Mr Ash who is online as we speak can bring some clarity to the forum. I hope that he is taking note that this discussion has received over 400 views in less than three (3) hours.
Answers are as follows...Q1 Yes...Q2 No...Q3 Yes...I may be wrong or can be accused of being too hopeful...But I would have imagined that an initiative as substantial as a "scholarship" would have been supported by more information in the first place. What is the plan? A school? Private lessons? Online tuition? Where is all this to take place? At Panyards around the country?...What?...What?...
Before September 2nd 2019, was this "opportunity" communicated to the general public?
THE EDUCATION OFFICER
Shall design, plan, co-ordinate and implement programmes for the education and information of members of the Association in all areas of interest.
Shall be responsible for collecting and recording information on the steelband movement in the Republic and abroad towards the establishment and maintenance of a national archives and library.
Shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him by the President and/or the Central Executive Committee from time to time.
The Constitution of Pan Trinbago.
Well, boy!!! DEM RABID, RETROGRESSIVE BEVERLEY SUPPORTERS just get their knees cut out from under them. You will think that something like this will OPEN THEIR EYES. But they are still lost in their TRIVIAL MENTALITY that BEVERLEY will give their band a little break in the PANORAMA or run a little change for their pocket -- that no KINDA REVELATIONS could wake them out the 50's and 60's.
So nothing could wake them up to realize that BEVERLEY IS TOO BACKWARD to take PAN FORWARD in these modern times. In truth and in fact they doh really LOVE PAN -- dey is just ah set ah OPPORTUNISTS.
Ah think that the man who write this POSTING -- REALLY LOVE PAN and PAN PROGRESS!!!
Anyway, ah have meh own AXE TO GRIND -- so leh me go and GRIND IT!!!
Nuff said.