Victimization or Oversight

As a young member of the Katzenjammers Steel orchestra I find it passing strange that our orchestra was left out of two events recently held by Pantrinbago and I am wondering if we were wilfully left out because our Manager Mrs. Beverley Ramsey – Moore has Challenged Mr. Keith Diaz for president of the National Body.
The first event we were left out of was Steel Fest. Our captain Ms. Jemma Duke and manager informed us that the president of Pantrinbago informed them that all the wining panorama bands for 2012 along with some other bands will be performing at the Steel Fest parade of the Floats. Mr. Peter Aleong a Steel Fest committee member visited out pan yard and told us we should start preparing our trailer for the parade of floats. The then chairman of the Tobago Region Mr Jeffrey Joseph informed us that a decision was taken at a meeting held by the president with the chairman of each region that the panorama champion in each category for 2012 automatically qualified to participate.
Just before the Steel fest parade in 2012 our manager resigned from the Central Executive due to claims of lack of accountability and transparency. The following week we were informed that we would not be participating in the parade and that the second place band will replace us. All the other champion bands participated except Katzenjammers. As youths we looked forward to the event and our expectations were squashed for reasons still to be explained to us. Why is our victimizing our organization?
I am also looking at the treatment meted out to us during the awards function for 5o years of panorama. Katzenjammers is the oldest surviving band in Tobago. Formed in 1951 the band participated in the first Panorama in Tobago, won the competition and received one bottle of rum and a set of tea cups and saucers as the first prize. Yet no mention of our name while bands that dissolved long before 1963 received awards.
Imagine at the Gala function panorama prizes for 2013 were given out and we did not receive an invitation nor informed by phone or email until the day before the function. No arrangement for transportation or accommodation was provided yet 10% ($50,000.00) of our prize money was deducted. Therefore why deduct from our prize if they could not provide basic necessities like transportation and accommodation - from Tobago to Trinidad for one representative, since Pantrinbago decided not to present prizes the same night as the finals which is the norm. Pantrinbago provided transportation for all the Awardees and regional executive members but the representatives for the bands to collect prizes had to find their way even though they took 10% of all four bands money.
Why was our master tuner Mr Roland Harrigin who has been tuning, making pans and exporting to the outside world not recognised after fifty years of panorama? He tuned for many winning bands for many years.
My friend from All Stars told me that he is also wondering if their band was also left out because their member Ms Denise Hernandez is on Mrs Ramsey – Moore team. He complained that while the secretary of Pantribago band performed as people choice winners in the Medium band category at Champs of Steel Plus All Stars was left out even though they won people’s choice in the large category.
No award for All Stars at Fifty years of panorama well it seems as though we are in the same boat.
My friend also told me if Diaz vex with you Crapaud Smoke yuh pipe. I hope that is not true.

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  • it is time the Pan Fraternity show some interest into the affairs of our movement, you know the saying "Fools and their money normally part". The hard part is that the money belongs to all of us, so until we do something to change, "We are all Fools". 

  • It is sad for the Pan body to understand that the Administration of Pan Trinbago has chosen to adopt these cheap tactics to rule. Everyone knows that Diaz and company sees about themselves first. Do not ask them any questions about Accountability, There is no Transparency they are very unethical in their behavior and does not encourage Democracy in the true sense of the word.

    Imagine in the standing orders, A MEMBER CANNOT SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC TWICE. So how does a  member,uncertain about the answer by the Chair get the opportunity to clarify the situation? 

    Beverly Ramsey- Moore is a woman of sound standing, I guess you all know that she is a Business woman and was also a member of the THA. Keith Simpson one of the few people of integrity in the Pan Movement, retired Bank Manager, resigned from the Administration of Pan Trinbago because of IRREGULARITIES which they were not accustomed to and did not want to participate in any thing "irregular". And all the Pan Leaders did was sweep that under the carpet.I guess it is common Knowledge, that Pan Trinbago committee Has APPEALED the Judge's decision in the matter against the Visionaries. Wasting money from the Pan Body. check and see the amount under Expenditure for Legal Fees.

    • So Trevor, what you are telling us on this Forrum is that Pan Trinbago IS APPEALING A JUDGE'S DECISION THAT THEY THEMSELVES HAVE WON!!!!!  Do I have this correct? Because it appears that they have won the last judgement overall in the courts. HAVE THEY APPEALED IT???!!!!

      • Yes the Visionaries won two and Pan Trinbago won two. So Pan Trinbago decide the Learned did not know what he was about and he erred in his jurisdictions. More of Pan men/ women's money going down the drain. I wish here in T&T, we had laws for PUNITIVE Damages, so when Pan Trinbago loses the Appeal they should also have to pay Plenty Damages, for wasting people's time and money.

        • Folks, These are the WISE MEN that run our Pan business here in Trinbago? Panman/woman money and Tax payers money is of no interest how they spend it. The more they get THE MORE THEY WASTE?!!!

  • Mr Bertel what i am referring to is the Steel Fest parade of Floats. The video you have seen is our performance with Obini Bata from Cuba. Redemption sound setters was originally selected to perform with the group but they could not perform on the given day so we were asked to stand in for them.

    The parade of Floats was organized months after and all winning panorama bands for 2012 were selected first. Our name was on the list as we were the medium champs and the band was replaced when our manager removed herself from among the members of the executive.

    At the concerts held in May last year N and M All Stars performed with ShenZhem music group from China and also performed at the parade of Floats because they were the large champs. katzenjammers replaced Redemption for the concerts and was denied a part in the parade by Pantrinbago when the champions of every other category participated. Why was the Medium Champs left out of the parade?

    I hope i explained and thanks for seeking clarification

  • All this is reason why steelbands have to organize themselves, PanTrinbago get away with what they are doing because they are not.

  • Moe, this kind of closed minded politics by the President of Pan Trinbago and friends cannot last for long. The bad you do always come back to haunt you in the end. I have never heard of any Corrupt/Unjust leadership ANYWHERE in this world that never suffered in the end. It just shows how ignorant these people are. You ALWAYS reap what you sow, you can rest assured. Pan will survive. Claude take note.

  • Moe: Your Manager (Beverley Ramsey-Moore) took a political gamble and grabbed for the power stick to run and control Pan Trinbago. It was a miscalculation as Diaz turned her and the Visionaires into mince meat.

    Now you are dealing with the fallout. That's the beast that is politics.

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