Unfair attack on PanTrinbago officer

[MakeItPlain]

Dear Nelsonian (this is in response to your post on the old WST message board, included after this for reference) What is your real, and own personal reason for posting this "letter" on this message board? Why are you targeting someone in Pan Trinbago's office who is only their Media/Communications officer as you indicate, but in the same letter, saying of the organization's lame leadership "Mr. Patrick Arnold is doiug a yeoman's [doing a yeoman] job given the tools with which he has to work. I know his hands are tied because Pantrinbago is not independent."? You excuse the boss - Arnold, who signs off on every decision - the president, but pillory his Media officer? Why are you being so self-serving? You are behaving like you plan to sit down and curry favour with Patrick Arnold some time soon, if you have not already, By your own definition, Ms. Fox is a media officer. Period. She is powerless - simply the organization's conduit, and public broadcast system. Why call her name so many times - SEVEN in total, not counting the first time you used her full name? The amount of responsibility you just heaped on her plate, all the shitty things that are characteristic of the organization, is not hers, but squarely that of the President. Nothing gets done without Arnold's blessing - or signature, not necessarily in that order. Perhaps you did not get the memo. President Obama was on five major networks on one day last week, taking full RESPONSIBILITY for the tax fiasco over his preferred nominee for Secretary of Health - Tom Daschle. That is what Presidents, and leaders in any capacity, do. They are RESPONSIBLE. And you would know full well that if anybody had even dared go after his Press Secretary (yes, media officer) Robert Gibbs, and try to make Gibbs personally responsible for his nominees' issues - well... There is nothing in your letter that you could not have more appropriately and officially addressed to Pan Trinbago itself, and directly, Arnold, for action. And yes, if you are so sure that Ms. Fox reads the board, also sent "her" a copy here, and requested that she forward to Arnold, or bring to the attention of management as issues that merit attention. Several of the problems in Pan Trinbago rightfully begin with the steelbands - but anytime Patrick Arnold feels like cleaning house, and he has been president for many years, he could have done it. For example, and this is just in one area: he could have steelbands falling in line, and things ship shape - delivering their info, etc - to the organization by said date - or they get left out, and can't compete. That happens one year - watch for the following year - they would be falling over themselves to behave. This goes for all the show put on by Pan Trinbago. These (Trinis in general) are the same people who behave like an army and march to commands in a "foreign" country when they migrate. But things in Trinidad itself move differently - because they get away with it all the time. There is simple professional etiquette that could have been implemented by Pan Trinbago, and signed off on by Patrick Arnold - that would make their productions, especially Panorama, run so much more smoothly annually. Professional etiquette does not depend on a "grant" or funding from any government, or organization. Arnold's job is not easy - but he is part of the problem. Like many, he drags his feet on several matters, and the organization itself is built on cronyism. Again - he is the president. If he can't deal with it, or does not have the balls to clean house, then he should leave. But that's for him. For you, please have SOME Balls, if you can find them, and do not do the typical Trini male thing and pick on a woman, because you know almost assuredly, she will not fight back. I noticed that you said "see panjumbies in the Big Yard." That would mean that you are probably in Trinidad - and being the busybody that you obviously are, you may have already been in to Pan Trinbago's offices, and even spoken to Ms. Fox, without her knowing or having a clue of who and what you are. Ms. Fox is not perfect. Like all of us, she must have flaws. But she does send out information, when it is gotten to her, and she is directed and authorized to do so - on behalf of the President and his organization, Pan Trinbago. So - instead of targeting Ms. Fox, and purposely having now made her name, and her person prime fodder as a focal point, possibly anathema, and placing a bull's eye on her back. - for anybody who has to deal with Pan Trinbago - drop your own self-serving cronyism, and hold Patrick Arnold and his entire management team accountable. Oh, I forgot, They are all Trini males, like you apparently are. So instead, you will put your tail between your legs, and snap and yap at Ms. Fox again. That's much easier. Lay off.

From nelsonian: As When Steel Talks prepares to move to a new site I want to take this opprotunity to post an open letter to Pantrinbago and Trinbago steelbands.   Since Ms. Angela Fox of Pantrinbago is Media/Communications officer and read the postings in this chatroom I shall post my comments to her.   Pantrinbago's web site is improving slowly but surely. They recently published the Rules & Regulations for Panorama 2K9. I urge all panjumbies to read it so that you will be allerted and informed for the after-Panorama talk.   Ms. Fox, while I often criticize Pantrinbago I must compliment it for the recent changes they made on their web site. You are providing more information. But you could do more. For example, you could inform panjumbies months ahead of Panorama time table so that we can plan our carnival trip. Panjumbies need the dates, steelband tunes, names of arrangers months ahead so that they can plan properly for Panorama. It seems that said the Rules & Regulations were published January 13, 2009. That is too late for carnival visitors to plan. The Rules & Regulations should be published around May or June. That will give you plenty time to work out any disagreements from steelbands. Come January there should be no dissent from steelbands. And,it would give visiting panjumbies enough time to plan.   Ms. Fox, Pantrinbago has been organizing Panorama since 1986 when it came into being as the World Governing Body for Steelbands. Surely 23 years is sufficient time to get your act together. And, a Steelband Association has been organization the Panorama since the 70s, making it a full 39 years that a steelband association has been running the Panorama.  According to the regulations, each steelband shall be registered with Pantrinbago by July 11, 2208. That is 6 months before Panorama. While most steelbands may not know what's their tune of choice or arranger for Panorama by July, Pantrinbago knows when the preliminaries and semi finals would take place long before January. I applaud Pantrinbago for its progressive Rule 5.2 which removes any restrictions as to the nationality or profession of the composer of the calypso selected to be rendered by a steelband for Panorama.   Ms. Fox, Pantrinbago has the finals date for the next 50 or 100 years since Panorama is always on carnival Saturday night. And, we know that carnival is two days before Ash Wednesday. So, it should be easy for Pantrinbago to work out a proper schedule for the preliminaries and semi finals immediately after the previous carnival. Ms. Fox, since panjumbies try to buy their plane tickets early (around May or so) so that they can get a cheap ticket it would be helpful if Pantrinbago publish the prelims and semis dates around June. Panjumbies should not have to guess those dates.   Ms. Fox, over the years I have come to understand Pantrinbago's limitations of what they can and cannot do due to fincial restrictions. But, what I expect Pantrinbago to do and do perfectly is run the Panorama. I shall take no excuses from Pantrinbago for any incompetence and/or tantana when running Panorama. Ms. Fox, I expect Pantrinbago to post on their web site the tunes and arrangers of every Panorama competing steelband. Most steelbands know their tune and arranger by December. If not, then they not going Panorama.   Ms. Fox,  as one of the many strong supporters of Pantrinbago I want it to succeed. But, I am not a passive supporter. Therfore, my criticisms of Pantrinbago's leadership and steelbands are only to make the organization and steelbands better. I want to be proud of my organization and steelbands and not see the nonsense that takes place every year before Panorama.  Mr. Patrick Arnold  is doiug a yeoman's job given the tools with which he has to work. I know his hands are tied because Pantrinbago is not independent. It depends on government (PNM) funding for the Panorama. And that is not always pretty.   Now my talk to steelbands. Steelbands, if you read Pantrinbago's Rules & Regulations you will see that it is well thought out. All steelbands have two representatives who can challenge them if they are disatisfied with any of the rules or regulations. Pantrinbago is the steelbands' organization. It is YOUR organization. You elected Pantrinbago and its leadership to govern you. But, an organization is only as strong as its membership That means that if you do not participate then Pantrinbago with all its faults would be the organization you deserve. Lastly, since all steelbands representatives sign on behalf of their steelbands there should be no more talk after Panorama about judges, transportation, arrangers, recordings and remittances for Panorama panists. You settled those questions when you signed the rules & regulations on behalf of your steelband.     I wish all steelbands the best Panorama 2K9. See panjumbies in the Big Yard.

[MakeItPlain]

An 'attack' it was.

nelsonian's singling out of Ms. Fox for his "critiques" was quite pointed. This is not the early nineties where computer access and interaction are a luxury. The message board/chat room has many, many people who are members who do not write at all, but read and follow everything. That includes people in the Pan Trinbago organization, which is considerably large.

Let's put it this way. nelsonian claimed he was aware that Ms. Fox reads the board, so he acted as if he needed her to "convey" his 'concerns.'

If instead it was any one of the males in the organization, such as Richard Forteau, Anthony Mc Quilkin, Michael Joseph, Keith St. Cyr, Keith Diaz, etc. - who read the message board - he would not have dared to type up that exact same text, and used, let's say - Ketih Diaz's name seven times, (instead of Ms. Fox). Because he knew that would result in either a good cuss out, a hot slap, perhaps a 'buss head' - or even a good cutarse....

[Z.Rowe]

The way I read and comprehended Nelsonian's letter, he was not attacking Angela Fox per se. He was attacking the whole Pan Trinbago organization. He plainly stated that he was only addressing Angela Fox because she reads the postings in this chatroom.

[Sarah-Ann]

Pan Trinbago deserves all it gets. That organisation has done nothing but treat the Soyth/Central and Tobago as the bastard children of Pan. They themselves think that only the bands in the North/East exist. Imagine they say it is the National Semi finals not one TV camera not one Tv station except the radio was in South but today all the attention will be in Port of Spain with enough media and freeloaders taking the best seats where I and others have to pay the maximum. Yes the members are to blame as they scarcely go to meetings and shout after the fact. I am getting ready to go as I am a Pan Fanatic but it is wiyh a heavy heart. As I think that those children who take part in practising night after night should be seen on the television as well. As for the judging we will see what happens.Fairness is a dirty word, as far as the judges go and even if they did not call the points on\friday night the north/east will some how get higher points than all other zones. Pan Trinbago is slowly killing Panorama.