Trinidad Express Newspapers
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Intellectual property rights is one of the major issues that is preventing the steelpan from being properly marketed internationally.
Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie said on Wednesday that next year, during the World Steelband Festival expected to be held in Trinidad and Tobago, emphasis will be placed on the national musical instrument.
....Tewarie said: “There is going to be a World Steelband Festival in Trinidad and Tobago next year bringing steelbands from all over the world and maybe taking that next step might be the opportunity to really locate the steelpan psychologically and intellectual property-wise in Trinidad and Tobago and maybe then we can begin to do something serious.”
....During her remarks at the event, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar spoke highly of the steelpan, the only percussive musical instrument to be created in the 21st [sic] century.
Replies
We need to tap into the historical aspect that we invented the pans. There should be historical markers throughout the islands showing visitors the birth place of the men and women who played major roles in the development. The aspect of human ingenuity is ours and we need to capitalize on that.
Tanty Pearl, It looks like people only want to talk about the steelpan and the steelband is suffering from a severe case of neglect.
On my last visit home the only pan I heard was a guy playing solo on Independence Square one morning. TT is the sacred ground for pan and it should be apparent when you are there. Brand Trinidad as the birth place and capitalize on that.
You tell them Tanty Pearl...
At this point if the government want to really do something they must first find out which is the most important area that needs intervention. They have to be reminded that there are people whose intention is only to profit off the steelband when there is an urgent need to teach the steelband how to make a profit for themselves.
THE FOCUS MUST BE ON THE STEELBAND NOT THE STEELPAN.
Dr Tewarie and Madame Prime Minister, just in case you didn't notice the steelpan has left your shores and now in the domain of the world, people all over the world are making pretty good instruments, you all missed the boat with the pan tuning in T&T, for years Ellie Mannette and Cliff Alexis has been teaching how to make pans in the US and I am sure there are others all over the world doing the same, you are correct about one thing that is pretty soon you all could be buying pans with a stamp made in the USA or Japan.
As T&T sleep other countries have taken the steelpan seriously and invested in research and development, now they are beginning to see the fruits of their labor.
At this time ALL energies should be towards the STEELBANDS in the Mecca, remove them from storage and make them useful again.
"you all missed the boat" That would be ALL governments, right Cecil?
patrick, they went to sleep 20-30 years ago, they could be in a coma or dead.