Reopening of the Cultural Relief Grant to Artists.

Reopening of the Cultural Relief Grant to Artists.

By Aquil Arrindell

Recently, I openly asked the Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, the Honorable Randall Mitchell, to consider the reopening of the Cultural Relief Grant to Artists, through various social media platforms. https://whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum/topics/thank-you-randall-mitchell-pan-men-can-now-travel https://www.facebook.com/aquilite/posts/4673764109307234.

Word on the ground is that it may soon become reality. If it does, we will again have to express our many thanks to the person(our line minister) or persons responsible for bringing relief to the steel band community.

Why not wait until the grant is out, one might ask. The answer is simple. We were underprepared, underrepresented and as a result, although we have undoubtably the greatest numbers i.e., panist/ performer/tuners /arrangers/drillmasters etc. per capita local and international, we received the least amount of relief. $10,000,000.00 (ten million dollars) was available for artists last year and very few panists benefited. All I am saying is, let us be prepared.

I am also hoping it is not too late to openly ask the minister and his ministry to consider that although a grant to panists/performers/tuners /arrangers/drillmasters etc. is wonderful but, a grant for steel bands is also needed. Bands are now facing over a year of unpaid utility bills and property maintenance costs which also include our national instruments. Also, consider that the criteria for panists eligibility and requirements would be different for each steel band.

Lastly, I am asking that all ten members of the central executive of Pan Trinbago make strong representation with the ministry and request that an allocation out of this relief goes to your membership and that they ensure that the distribution process is without prejudice. We are saying to the central executive that we need you all at this time to work together, treat all bands fairly and let us unit overcome this trying time.

I will personally send application forms to all bands should the ministry give the green light on the Relief to Artists Grant once more.

Happy Fathers’ Day on Sunday. Stay safe and stay alive.

Pan in Meh Blood

Aquil Arrindell

As I wrote in Governance, Startup & Reopening. Posted on June 6, 2021 at 12:31pm:

Steel bands need capital injection to prepare for action. To start up any mothballed operation successfully and get it producing, requires proper planning, and optimal intelligent use of time, goods and services. Steel bands are no different. I would not elaborate on this here, but shall presently address the subject of startup. I would be cautious in recommending the disbursement of necessary state funds across the board for this purpose.

This is an election year, I am inclined to recommend to the Minister of Culture that similar independent background checks as is required for national social assistance be made, and not to depend on the recommendations of regional officials only for disbursement.

The likelihood of nonfunctional ghost bands jumping ahead of the queue undeserving cannot be understated. The fact that the number of single pan bands almost double that of conventional bands is atrocious. The fact that small bands and medium bands collectively may more than quadruple the number of large bands is alarming. This is so only because of padding. Voter padding takes place to fatten the delegate pool. It is reported that regional officials who are disciples of embattled executive dissenters, but followers of the incumbent president, may already be suggesting to bands whom they suspect may not be inclined to throw their support behind the sitting leader in any upcoming election, to remember the hand that feeds them. These people cannot be trusted with recommending disbursement of scarce state funds equitably to the most deserving functional bands that promote the art form all year round, and not seasonally."

Who's listening?

The Minister of Culture?

Pantrinbago?

Steelband leaders?

Replies

Russell Providence June 19, 2021 at 9:12am

As I wrote in Governance, Startup & Reopening. Posted on June 6, 2021 at 12:31pm:

Steel bands need capital injection to prepare for action. To start up any mothballed operation successfully and get it producing, requires proper planning, and optimal intelligent use of time, goods and services. Steel bands are no different. I would not elaborate on this here, but shall presently address the subject of startup. I would be cautious in recommending the disbursement of necessary state funds across the board for this purpose.

This is an election year, I am inclined to recommend to the Minister of Culture that similar independent background checks as is required for national social assistance be made, and not to depend on the recommendations of regional officials only for disbursement.

The likelihood of nonfunctional ghost bands jumping ahead of the queue undeserving cannot be understated. The fact that the number of single pan bands almost double that of conventional bands is atrocious. The fact that small bands and medium bands collectively may more than quadruple the number of large bands is alarming. This is so only because of padding. Voter padding takes place to fatten the delegate pool. It is reported that regional officials who are disciples of embattled executive dissenters, but followers of the incumbent president, may already be suggesting to bands whom they suspect may not be inclined to throw their support behind the sitting leader in any upcoming election, to remember the hand that feeds them. These people cannot be trusted with recommending disbursement of scarce state funds equitably to the most deserving functional bands that promote the art form all year round, and not seasonally."

Who's listening?

The Minister of Culture?

Pantrinbago?

Steelband leaders?
Claude Gonzales June 19, 2021 at 12:09am

LIKE YUH TAKE OVER PAN TRINBAGO BOY!!! BEVERLEY SLEEPING IN TOBAGO AND YOU FIGHTING FOR MONEY FOR PAN MEN!!!

This reply was deleted.