T & T entertainment sector

[Royce Russell]

 

 

'$1.3 billion needed to transform T&T entertainment sector'

 

The Artist Coalition is calling for sector transformation to the tune of $1.3 billion.

Around $1.29 billion is the total amount that needs to be injected into the arts and entertainment sector over the next year in order to begin transforming the sector into a vibrant, thriving industry.

This figure was presented last Thursday evening at a meeting called by the Artist Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) and attended by various industry stakeholders. The meeting was held at the office of the Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Company Limited (TT ENT) on Long Circular Road in St James.

Interim president of ACTT, Rubadiri Victor, presented a 47-page document entitled The Way Forward and told the gathering that recent meetings with certain Government Ministers had been very productive.

He said: "These figures have been compiled after years of research and study, consultations with various industry stakeholders and meetings back and forth with the ever-changing government appointees. We now have a National Cultural Policy document, a budget document, a power-point introduction to the budget, as well as this vision for the arts and cultural sector. We have presented these documents to (Finance) Minister (Winston) Dookeran who was very supportive and appears to be very interested in pushing this initiative and advancing the needs of the sector in the interest of diversifying our economy."

www.panapparels.com

[Hameed Shaqq]

Where did this project go?

[Hameed Shaqq]

Do you know if the Steel pan was represented. Pantrinbago must now be very aware and extremely active and should ensure that the Steel Pan as part of the Entertainment Industry gets its appropriate share from that sum of money. Money and Leadership is required to create more opportunies for the ever expanding Pan Community. Pantrinibago shold be in the forefront in advocating entertainment and educational activies for youths but within the steelbands and with some affillations to Uof TT. Trinidad and Tobago must always remain the Mecca for anything Pan, now and in the future. The Land of the steel Pan lags far behind many countries in early Steel Pan Playing Education. For over 20 years, young people playing steel Pan in elementary Schools in the Toronto have entertained parents and others. Some Students have already left their legacies as they moved on to graduate playing their Steel pan at noted Colleges and became music instructors teaching the Steel Pan in Schools.