Firstly, Chief Bowei, I sincerely thank you, on behalf of the WST membership, for the opportunity to have my questions answered. Again, they come through me, and are not of me, nor for my personal gain. I seek only honest answers to the following, with all due respect:
- How long have you had a business relationship with Pan Trinbago, and how did this come about?
- If, as Pan Trinbago claims, they are the “non profit, World governing body for pan”, why did you set it fit, to form your own steelband association in Nigeria, and was this association, also formed in joint-partnership with Pan Trinbago? If not, why?
- Why isn’t your steelband association, like Pan Trinbago, a partner in the ATTSDC?
- As far as you know, can “non profit associations”, legally conduct the kind of (for profit)business, as does Pan Trinbago, in being a “shareholder” of a privately-held limited liability company, in Nigeria or anywhere else?
- Can you articulate for us (not me), EXACTLY how this three-shareholder LLC, will benefit the average panman or panwoman in Trinidad & Tobago?
- Are “Trinbagonians” wrong, for being wary and suspicious, of anyone who unilaterally forms private companies, intended to exploit the resources of our national instrument for financial gain, citizen or non-citizen?
- When the ATTSDC were accepting applications for employment in their newly-formed company, why didn’t you post those positions on this WST forum, or on Pan Trinbago’s – a shareholder, and “world governing body for pan” – website? http://www.linkedin.com/groups/AFRICATRINIDAD-TOBAGO-STEELPAN-DEVELOPMENT-COMPANY-137682.S.102915047
- What is Nigeria’s track record, when it comes to “corporations” (especially “Big Oil” companies) versus the “native tribes”, politically, environmentally, and socially speaking?
- What is Nigeria’s track record on political activism and protests, and would you say that Trinidad & Tobago’s track record, is not as violent, oppressive, and as controlled by “big business”?
- Is January of this year, the Nigerian Tribune, in a report, it was noted that “Runsewe revealed that Nigeria and the Caribbean country share a historical connection dating back to 1924, maintaining that the ties should be sustained for the mutual benefit of tourism promotion in both countries…He agreed to the Envoy’s request by promising to brand the Desperadoes Steel band with Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago emblems, arrange for top Nigerian acts to perform during the carnival alongside the Desperadoes Steel-band and suggested that a joint press conference featuring top musicians and Nollywood stars should also be organized in Lagos as this will translate to maximum publicity and appreciation for the steel orchestra.” Do you agree that (a) our “historical connection” only goes back 80-plus years, and, (b) it benefits the rest of Trinidad & Tobago steelbands, to have ONLY that one steelband receive such promotion and branding, and if so, how?
- Further, why wasn’t Excel Steelband, the Nigerian steelband association, Pan Trinbago, or any of the ATTSDC board members, a part of this “envoy” (above), or even mentioned in the article? http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/tourism/34491-trinidad-and-tobago-solicits-ntdc-participation-in-carnival
- Why was the media allowed to listen in on the meeting for thirty minutes, only to be asked to leave, as it was “private”? Didn’t they know the meeting was “private” prior to starting the meeting? And how do you respond to Pan Buzz’s article on this issue with the media? http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2012-07-19/that%E2%80%99s-insulting-mr-pan-president
- Do you think that the image Pan Trinbago continues to create for itself, benefits any business partnerships they enter into, and is this the “corporate image” that the ATTSDC founders envisioned, which resembles that of the same “big oil” corporations, that continue to exploit the resources and destroy the environment of Nigeria? (I will publish my current research on this issue.)
- Finally, as a partner with Pan Trinbago, can you understand local “Trinbagonians”, whom may feel that you should also be held accountable, as a willing and knowing part of business practices, that are suspicious and clandestine, at least, and unethical and unlawful, at most”?
I thank you, again, for the opportunity to answer these questions, and I thank you in advance, for your respectful response and answers, as offered and guaranteed. Shem Em Hotep,
Your Trinidad & Tobago Brother.
In Pan and Pan Africanism,
George D. Goddard/GHOST
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