Blog 2.0

I would like to encourage WHEN STEEL TALKS to conduct an interview with LEROI BOLDON, who was a hands-on witness to the early development of the steelband movement. Here is a man who has spent his entire life living, loving and supporting, not just the pan, but the culture of Trinidad and Tobago from the streets of Port-of-Spain to the shores of California.

His is an informative and historical story of one man's unheralded contribution to the artform, that should be shared with the WHEN STEEL TALKS audience, as a starting point.

Claude

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-06-23/new-faces-pm%E2%80%99s-cabinet-reshuffle

So we now have a new Minister of Arts & Multiculturalism .Dr.Lincoln Douglas and Winston "Gypsy" Peters is now the Minister of Community Development ...what does it all mean? What is the information on Dr. Lincoln Douglas? What can we expect from these changes?

Respect

Salah

Disrespectful and shameful, the only way to describe the manner in which the steelpan was treated in Fyzabadat the OWTU pre labour day pan festival on Friday 15. A tassa band performed after every steelband, and was allowed to command the stage for long hours. When the final steelband (Gonzales Sheikers) was playing, they were hurried off the stage because of time and was not allowed to perform their required five selections. What was more disturbing, is another tassa group carded to play after Gonzales Sheikers was asked to come into the OWTU compound to perform while the steelband was sent home short of playing time.

I would lie to point out the following

• The handful of supporters are there to hear pan.
• Tassa should perform before or after the pan or on another day.
• The pan is being used to give Tassa an audience and as such due respect should be given to the instrument.

I was instrumental in starting this program back in the late 1990's with then President General Errol Mcleod and supportetrs filled the streets. since the introduction of Tassa into the equation, a mere handful of persons attend the show. Tassa is a rhythmic instrument and cannot stand alongside a melodic instrument like the steelpan. Come on OWTU stop boring us with all that Tassa; Stop disrespecting the steelpan for the sake of Tassa; stop running the crowds for tassa. Remember that the steelpan is not only the national instrument but also our indigenous instrument.