Blog 2.0

The boston police department in Massachusetts now has underway an ongoing so-called "operation" - OPERATION STEEL DRUM, where they say they are rounding up and have arrested some, in advance, quote "as likely to commit violent acts at the festival." Interestingly, they claim this has connections with "the Dominican Festival." How did they get from "the Dominican Festival" to OPERATION STEEL DRUM?? What on earth does one have to with the other? The Steel drum or Steel pan is the national instrument of a sovereign country, Trinidad and Tobago. Here is the link to the boston article: www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/08/28/boston_police_arrest_34_before_festival/

It is extremely chilling that the boston police department with a past and very present virulent history of racial profiling and worse -is demonizing and denigrating the national instrument and culture of a sovereign country, by naming their so-called criminal clean-up activity after the steel drum, and also arrogantly displaying unfathomable disrespect and contempt in this manner.

The steelband people have strived throughout the years to overcome the stigmatization related to the steelband, which still goes on today. Now, the boston police dept, the same people who are sworn to "protect and serve" unfairly castigate and disrespect members of that same society they made that pledge to protect and serve - some of whom are steelpan players. Many people go to Boston for the Carnival (which is today, by the way) and steelpan people as well.

Imagine you are living in Boston, and your child is a member of a steelband down there, and you are pulled over by the cops for a random check, and you inform said officers you were on your way to a steel drum practice with your child? Imagine the officers' "pre-disposition" with OPERATION STEEL DRUM ongoing?

I wonder where the president of Pantrinbago Keith Diaz on this issue? Will he officially call-out boston Police Chief Dan Linskey on this matter? What says former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning? And steelpan lover and avid supporter himself, the President of Trinidad and Tobago (the land of the steel pan/drum) His Excellency Maxwell Richards? And newly-minted Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar?

What say we as steelband people?

Can WHEN STEEL TALKS find out what is the situation with Labor Day/Jouvert Morning Steelband competition 2010? I spoke to Emlyn Harewood, the leader of the band DC Pan Jammers, which won the Bomb competition last year and he told me he saw the results of the competition on WHEN STEEL TALKS.

Emlyn told me that leading up to the competition, he received calls fom everyone, even the police, but after the competition, NADA! He has won aspects of the Labor Day/Jouvert Morning competition on at least three occasions and has never received any payments OR trophy inclusive of last year. WHAT IS GOING ON?

Emlyn told me that he is interested in the band participating in this year's competition but he is at a loss at what to do and who to contact. Mobilization costs to bring the band from DC are over $3,000 and of course there is the registration fee for the competition among other things. Please WHEN STEEL TALKS find out what is going on.