Silence of the pan people

Silence of the pan peopleSilence of the pan people

Friday, November 2 2012

THE EDITOR: On Sunday October 28, 2012 should have been the election of officers of Pan Trinbago for the 2012-2015 term for the National Executive of Pan Trinbago. 

Instead, because of a high court order the elections had to be postponed, due to some issues revolving around the constitution of Pan Trinbago.

It seems to me, that the warriors/defenders of the movement have all gone silent since the days of the late George Goddard, Arnim Smith, Oscar Pile, to name a few, men who would stand up for what they believed in, and were not afraid to challenge Pan Trinbago’s leadership. 

In the 1980s and 1990s some new voices came on the scene, and attempted to follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned “warriors” and made their voices heard whenever there were slip ups, from the National Executive. 

Men like, Darryl and George Duncan, Kendall Lewis, Michael “Scobie” Joseph, Milton “Wire” Austin, Marie “the blue Hair lady” Dupres, Godfrey Joseph, David Balbosa, Sam from (Tunapuna All Stars) Unfortunately, these new warriors too, have become silent.

One has to wonder, what is the reason for the silence, as there are many issues affecting the movement that needs to be addressed, hence our stagnation. It is time that somebody revives that old warrior spirit and stand up for truth, honesty, and justice for all the members of the organisation. Only then, will good governance return to Pan Trinbago.

Joseph John

Arima

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  • Power Stars Steel Orchestra

    114 Western Main Road

    St. James,

    Trinidad & Tobago

    West Indies

     

    November 22, 2012

     

    Mr. Richard Forteau

    Secretary – Central Executive

    PAN TRINBAGO;

    Room 1D, First Floor, Victoria Suites

    14-17 Park St, Port-of-Spain

     

    Re. OFFICIAL LETTER OF COMPLAINT REGARDING NOTICE OF REGIONAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS ET AL.

     

    Dear Sir,

     

    Further to my letter of October 19, 2012, I wish to acknowledge with many thanks receipt of my orchestra’s Panorama 2012 Net Appearance disbursement of $2970.00 TTD on the morning of the disbursement of Annual Reports of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday October 28, 2012 at the Capital Plaza.  I also acknowledge with many thanks your notice (ref. RF/hsj) of November 7, 2012 in which you gave notice of the Triennial Regional Meeting of the Northern Region of Pan Trinbago T.C Inc to be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the Communications Workers Union Hall, 146 Henry Street, Port-of Spain from the 5:00 p.m., for the following purposes:

     

    1. 1.      To receive the Report of the Regional Executive for the period December 2009 to November 2012.
    2. 2.      Elect Regional Officers.
    3. 3.      To transact any other business that may be properly before the meeting.

     

     

    According to the Constitution of Pan Trinbago Inc. reference is made to Article 10:1– Elections–which states, “Officers of the Association shall be selected by means of the electoral process which shall be held at two (2) levels:-a. The Central Executive Committee which shall be elected at the triennial Special Convention;
    b. The Regional Executive Committee which shall be elected one (1) month after the Special Convention”
    .

     

    And also according to the Constitution of Pan Trinbago Inc reference is made to Article 13:Offences Part A - 1,2, 4, 5 & 7 which states, “A: OFFENCES

    1. 1.      Offences for which an Officer of the Association may be tried are as follows:-
      1. 1.      Repeated failure to abide by the provisions of this Constitution or any other written laws of the Association.
      2. 2.      Espousing doctrines repugnant to the principles, aims and objectives of the Association.
      3. 3.      Misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office.
      4. 4.      Personal Misconduct such as to bring the Association into disrepute.
      5. 5.      Conduct unbecoming of an Officer
      6. 6.      Misappropriation or misuse of funds of the Association.
      7. 7.      Abuse of powers and prerogatives of an Officer.
      8. 8.      Willfully failing or refusing to use means at his disposal to protect the property, rights and interests of the Association

     

     

    Under my jurisdiction as a certified delegate of a bonafide member steelband of Pan Trinbago T.C Inc, and with the unanimous approval of my orchestra’s Board of Management as the Chairman/Manager, I am conveying to you through this official letter of complaint, formally lodging my orchestra’s strenuous objections with the trend of actions of the Secretary of the Association; in that (1) while in his acknowledged circular of November 7, 2012 and August 24, 2012 (ref. RF/hsj) as posted in the Annual Reports of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday October 28, 2012 at the Capital Plaza summarizes the execution of the event, managed and chaired under the pretext of the same circular of August 24, 2012 before the matter became sub judice thru High Court Order that placed all of the organization's electoral processes have been put on hold pending the judgment of the High Court on predetermined date of December 03, 2012; and in that (2.) the manner in which these notices from your office seen attached are being circularized within this misguided conceptual framework of your executive’s interpretation of the Constitution of Pan Trinbago Inc Article 10:1 as articulated by your good self at Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday October 28, 2012 at the Capital Plaza through the meeting’s Chair,  summarizes that which I speak of, in your office’s intent of deliberately corrupting and convoluting in a manner, in circumstances which I must say at best, is to create a cacophony of convulsions to deliberately corrupt salient Pan Trinbago constitutional clauses regarding Elections, that is at best abhorrently unacceptable.

     

     

    If the Secretary of the Association through circular (ref. RF/hsj) of November 7, 2012 wishes to continue within the execution of this notice of Regional Election of Officers on the grounds of what The National Executive believed to be also a Triennial Special Convention Meeting where Central Executive elections are held; then the Secretary of the Association is reminded, that the current acknowledged notice of November 7, 2012 would be “in advisable if not inappropriate” as again, the matter of all of the organization's electoral processes Central Executive & by direct extension Regional Election of Officers is also sub judiced.

     

    Your continued course of action, Mr. Secretary, I am to advise you in your collective wisdom, at best is ultra vires and illegal on Pan Trinbago's part and maybe construed by the Court in its current review on this matter; (1) at worst as an attempt to interfere and intimidate with a judicial process governed by the supreme authority of the Constitution of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago into giving you the remedy, the very remedy that you are being claimed from in the matter in the court in the first place;  and (2) at best allowing the plaintiffs in this litigation whilst the matter is pending in the bosom of the court, to build a case of legal ammunition of illegal notices to mount upon, until the matter can be ventilated before the Court at which time the National Executive can account for their willful disregard of the Order, on predetermined court date of December 03, 2012.

     

    I trust that this correspondence which is made without prejudice will be taken in the vein on the basis of the precluded arguments that in accordance with the above mentioned reasons. It is our orchestra’s hope that in our well-placed trust in your good office that reason and good wisdom will prevail, and the correct course of action will be taken, for the reasons stated above already highlighted. 

     

    Thanking you in advance for your kind assistance and service.

     

     

     

    Respectfully,

     

     

     

    Gregory Lindsay

    Delegate

    Power Stars Steel Orchestra

    868.739.1387

     

    cc.        Mr. John Harris                       Secretary, Power Stars Steel Orchestra

    Mr. Keith Diaz                        President, Pan Trinbago

    Mr. Douglas Williams             Chairman, North Region PAN TRINBAGO

    Mr. Vernon Morancie             Chairman, Eastern Region PAN TRINBAGO

    Mr. Eldon J.W. Bain               Chairman, South Region PAN TRINBAGO

    Mr. Jeffrey Joseph                  Chairman, Tobago Region PAN TRINBAGO

  • When the Blueprint for Pan was put forward,,,the Clauses/Legal relevant to the governing of Pantrinbago, by ,,, Pan"tum the ghost who speak,,,,there were a barrage of attacks and degregation by many,,,the Backdoor deal with Chief Bowie,i had said one thing in the inception which was , i have nothing against such a partnership, once all tuners,,arrangers were properly reimbursed, with the reshuffling of tuners  on a 3 or 6 months basis , one can recheck my comments for verification, i had asked why didn,t Diaz not made it public to all of the Pan people?,,but !the said attitude prevailed,,attacks,,with degregation,,Chief Bowie did not view the comments of many of us as a guide for a fruitful  outcome,,now this is the results of the deal,,,,,i had said it before and would repeat it once more PANTRINBAGO  IS TOTAL STAGNANCY,, it,s time for Diaz to go,the words of Pan'tum and many on this website are coming to pass,, i have already  stated on this website why i was silent,, my respect to all of the   WST members,,Diaz must go  by hook or crook,,let Ms R Moore be given a fair chance to perform, God Bless.

  • Trevor, I'm aware.

  • Trevor, just to let you and the forum know that PAUL CLARKE has no connection steelband wise or other wise to GERARD CLARKE!!

    • Gerard, I know of Paul Clarke since during the sixties. He was a teacher and sports master at Progressive secondary school, located on Henry Street, Port of Spain. He is presently in charge of a band, Boys Town of Point Cumana .He is   Manager, Captain etc. their pan Tent has been renamed Stardust steel orch., and Paul Clarke has taken Boys Town Pans ( just a handful) up the hill.  They have no players, are unable to participate in competitions or even come on the road for carnival. Y et the President of PT, said in the meeting on 28/10/12, to the Chairman of the Northern region, who querried the authenticity of the representative from the band, that the Liaison officer never reported that, that band was not functional. so, they received a cheque for Assistance. People of Pan, Trinidadians , What does this appear to be?

      That is one of the reasons the grant from the Ministry pf Arts and Multiculturism is constantly been reduced, Too many Fraudulent activities under the guise of "Helping Pan"

      Why don't the PRO visit the area and make attempts to organise the band so that they can teach young people the art of playing Pan and learning music, forming possibly a club. Making them sort of self sufficient, but not getting money under false pretences for supporting the incumbents.

  • The leadership of Pan Trinbago should recognize their organization remains a prime topic for discussion on this forum not because of any animosity to Pan Trinbago, but because of the disappointment that most pan lovers feel at the wasted potential of an organization that should be at the forefront of worldwide pan activities and growth.

    • Temper. temper, temper now Mr. Diaz.  Don't get your pressure up now. The internet is here to stay.

      Glenroy, Mr. Diaz is a sugarless gummy-bear.

      bus

  • The episode of the new Pan Tribago executive would take place on WST forum, the election and boundries commission have to step in and referee the election.

  • Mr Cooper i remember you from the meeting and admired your fighting spirit. I also recognised that you are a member of the Visionaries and i want to commend you all for being fearless in a hostile environment. The tone of the meeting was to malign and annihilate the people who were challengers of Diaz and his slate. Look at the Reports and you will see what i mean, imagine in a report you are personally attacking your opponents in the election, that is MADNESS. Is that the example we are setting for our youths? 

    I gathered from the meeting that of the four Regions, three Chairmen are not supportive of the the operations of Diaz and the executive. Tobago, North and East Chairmen are against poor governance and South Chairman is supporting Diaz, that was clear for all to see, so in his attempt to shower praise on the south region, Forteau the secretary in his Report singles out the South Region for special mention although the Financial Report proves they have performed the worst of the Regions. Is that right Mr Forteau? Instead you attack other regions in your report.

    Then again, Mr Diaz seems bitter because two chairmen are running for positions on the central executive. How do i know he is bitter ? You could have felt the bitterness by his tone and also from the Reports. I was also present at the AGM when Diaz as chairman of the North Challenged Former President Patrick Arnold and he was joined by Forteau and rest and they launched a broadside attack on Arnold from the Head Table and Diaz as a chairman Attacked from the floor but on Sunday the rules changed. I told my friend i am not attending any more Pantrinbago Meetings with him because  i am a proffesional person and i cannot sit by and see adhocism take place. I would like to help but my friend who is the vice captain of his band tells me that i am too decent for pan because Diaz and Forteau and  Pablo and them not giving up they pay just so.  Well this is not about Good Governance it is about personal survival hence the reason the the meeting was a campaign rally and not a well conducted Agm in accordance with 21st centuary standards.

    Chief Bowei you were not speared and you were not there to defend yourself but can you tell us why you refused to set up an online account and why you were trying to rob pantrinbago of their company. The impression given is that you are are con man and attempted to rob Lambert and Pantrinbago. The Nigeria fiasco gets deeper and deeper. When will the truth be told.

    Lastly, i want to appeal to Mr Merancie  and the Visionaries to find common ground and get together to turn pantrinbago into a modern day corporate body with rules, policies and ethics of accountability and transparency. I was not interested in who won the election but from what i observed on Sunday there is need for sober leadership and not the  Bully, Self Preservation Leadership that presented itself by Diaz and his Team on Sunday.The Organization is bigger than the People and it should be Membership before Self.

    Take a look at the financial statement and you will see the mismanagement. i will pause here for now.

    • Thank you Panella, presently the central Executive is working Feverishly to put in place the regional elections. The constitution is quite clear on the Timing of the Regional Elections The regional elections shall be held one month AFTER the holding of the elections for the Central Executive. once again trying to manipulate the system for thei own means.

      Have you all realised that in any Pan Trinbago meeting when discussing the Shareholders of the company arrangement with Chief Bowie, mention is never made of the third shareholder, or the name of his company called, or his involvement in this entire fiasco? That is why, understanding the undermining characteristics of members in the Central Executive, i have no alternative but to believe that Chief Bowie is a Victim in this entire situation. Until the Facts present themselves on both sides and i can form an honest opinion, and on comparing thebasis on how this election is run, by unfair and unethical tactics, i can only say that is their modus operandi.  

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