Naming of the New NAPA Building in San Fernando , Trinidad.

[Steve "Carter" K.]

The talk about Town is that the NAPA Building in Port Of Spain is to be named after Dr. Pat Bishop and rightfully so . The NAPA building in San Fernando is almost completed and should be opened in the very near future . My question is , who is going to be Honored by having this facility named after them . Many have made tremendous contributions to the Arts so careful considerations have to be undertaken before a final decision is taken . South in general and San Fernando in particular  have had Great Performers in Dance, Calypso , Acting , Indian Folk Arts , Chutney Music , Classical Music and Song , Folk Music and Song  and many , many more . The wealth of Talent is enormous but to my mind the one that did the most for the South and San Fernando is BOBBY MOHAMED and his band Cavaliers Steel Orchestra . This combination brought a new sound and styling to the Pan World with an Energy Level never before experienced . Bobby was not just a PanMan but an Arranger and Composer Extraordinaire who used his Talent to create Music which had the entire T+T in Awe and that from a very young age . The Pride and Recognition which they brought to the us could never be quantified and his accomplishments were by far the Greatest we have on record to date . He is still composing, adjudicating and active in the Pan World and is always ready to pass on his vast knowledge to those who seek it . It is my opinion that the San Fernando NAPA facility be named after BOBBY MOHAMED as a gesture of our Appreciation and Recognition for all he and Cavaliers have done for us .I do not think that any PanMan was ever celebrated in this manner so I am asking that all Pan Players both past and present support this idea so as to make it a reality and a fitting Tribute to our San Fernando Hero BOBBY MOHAMED . I do hope that this reaches Pan Trinbago so that they as the Governing body for Pan would lobby those charged with this decision making to have it named after this illustrious Southerner . Bobby deserves this and he is still here so lets try our utmost best to have it achieved . I welcome all responses so please do . Thanks .

[Alvin Rostant]

I would love to see Bobby Mohamed get the nod.

[anne fridal]

WHY CANT WE JUST LEAVE NAPA NORTH AND SOUTH BY THAT EXACT NAME NAPA AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR. IF WE WISH TO HONOUR INDIVIDUALS  INCL MY FRIEND THE LORD KITCHENER THEN HAVE A MUSEUM WITHIN THE NAPAS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ICONS. PLEASE IT IS NOT FAIR AND OR JUST TO NAME  THESE BUILDINGS AFTER SPECIFIC  INDIVIDUALS. SAME FOR THE LIBRARY IT SHOULD REMAIN AS IT IS THE NATIONAL LIBRARY. MANY ICONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ART AND CULTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. SPARROW, JIT, BOOGSIE,ANDRE,NAPPY,MARJORIE, HEATHER, JILL,DENISE, THE VARIOUS CHOIRS AND THEIR LEADERS, AND SO MANY ABROAD WHO HAVE SHOWCASED THE NAME OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO HOME AND ABROAD GEOFFREY HOLDER, BOSCOE HOLDER, RUDOLPH WALKER, PEARL CONNOR, GERALDINE CONNOR. THEIR SHOW BE A PERMANENT EXHIBITION ON WHERE VISITORS CAN VISIT AND BE EDUCATED ON THE HISTORCAL ASPECT OF OUR ICONS.THERE ARE SO MANY WHO ARE AND HAVE BEEN IGNORED.

[Steve "Carter" K.]

I would like to add that Bobby was also a Cultural Ambassador for  T+T being a Member of The National SteelBand back in the 60's and a performer with this band at Expo 67 in Canada . I believe that he was amongst the Arrangers for the National Band at that time also . Thanks to Mr. Ian Franklin for stating so many facts about Bobby and Cavaliers , it was indeed very educational . I remember that in the festival of 1966 when Cavaliers played " Carmen " the Adjudicator ,  Professor John Russel said that the Arranger of this Band "has the cleanest ear for music he has encountered " . This statement is enough to confirm the High Level of  Bobby's Musical Ability .  Thanks .

[Ian Franklin]

I greatly support this suggestion by Mr. Steve K. of Naming that Building in San Fernando,                         The Lennox Mohamed Performing Arts Centre.                                                                                             I posted a blog back in 2009 about petitioning the Trinidad and Tobago about changing Lazarri Street to   Bobby Mohamed Circle in honour of Mr. Lennox "Bobby" Mohamed. I later learned that the name Lazarri, is a very powerful name in San Fenanado. I decided to look at the name Skinner, as in Skinner Park. There again I was educated about the name Skinner, as a wealthy land owner who donated many acres of land to the Borough of San Fernando. As Mr. Steve K. stated, "no one has done more for San Fernando in the name of the Arts than Mr. Lennox Mohamed. In 2007 and 2008 the Panorama Finals were held in San Fernando, but Pan Trinbago did not have the decency to honour Mr. Mohamed at any of those two Panorama Finals.        Here is a man who was the most successful Panorama arranger in the 1960's with (2) victories and (2) second place finishes, and is the youngest arranger to win Panorama at 22 and yet, he was ignored. "Bobby" also placed Cavaliers 3rd at three Classical Steel Orchestra Music Festivals. In 1966, he arranged "Carmen" without reading the music sheets, it was done entirely from his head. This was pure genius.                         At the 1967 Festival, he became the first to compose, arrange, qualify and place at a Classical Final.          His Composition was "Revelations From Beyond" 

We have to our forward our appeal to, The Powers That Be.

(The Lennox Mohamed Performing Arts Centre)  YES!

[Bugs]

@ Steve 

There is nothing wrong with you lobbying for what you believe would be a good choice on this board.  People lobby for and against things all the time here.

bugs

[Steve "Carter" K.]

As the one who started this Blog please let me say that Bobby has nothing to do with this and this Blog is only my suggestion . If this is wrong then I apologize if any one is offended . I see nothing shameful about it and it would be nice to be informed of what is the right way . I am still learning . Thanks .

[S. F. Thomas]

This is a shameful lobbying effort and should be discontinued. If Bobby Mohammed consented to this effort on his behalf he should reconsider. If he did not give prior consent, then the original poster is misguided, and may end up doing more harm than good to the cause he seeks. There is a right way and a wrong way to do things, and this is the wrong way.

- Big Sid

[kaiso]

Good choice - Bobby put Sando on the panorama map in the late sixties. A great life-time achievement award.

[BEDE LOPEZ]

I quite agree that the NAPA in Port of Spain will be named after Pat Bishop and the NAPA in San Fernando SHOULD be named after Bobby Mohamed. Ever since Bobby brought the Guiness Cavaliers to Port of Spain it changed the tempo and style of Panorama Steel Bands for the good. Bobby will go down in history as the man that change Panorama

[JP Bethelmy]

@ renaming of NAPA (North) - Seriously?? Where and when was this said?