$955,000 for pan

Pan Trinbago, the governing body for the steel band movement, received $955,000 as funding for a 12-month Pan Tuning Course from the Community Development Fund. The handing over and signing of the agreement took place at the Ballroom of Crowne Plaza, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain last Friday between representatives of the Ministry of Community Development and Culture and Pan Trinbago during the launch of the Pan Tuning Course. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Carol Clarke signed on behalf of the Ministry while Joan Yuille-Williams was the witness. Pan Trinbago’s President Patrick Arnold signed on behalf of the pan body.

Minister Yuille-Williams told the audience, “This programme is designed to train 100 persons in the art of Pan Tuning and as a former teacher, I insisted the course should contain life skills training. “The pan tuners of the future must not only display skills proficiency, they must also possess the attitudes and behaviour which will enhance their delivery and the image they project to the world.” The minister added, “Pan Tuning is an art like sugar cane boiling. It is a dying art and any of the people who are involved in it today are the holders of this proud tradition in Trinidad and Tobago culture. “There is a saying in Africa that ‘when an old man dies a library burns down’ and that is because the rich history, knowledge and experience that the person has was not passed on.

“This is happening among the few Pan Tuners left — the libraries are burning down. I charge the keepers of this rich tradition to make sure that you understand that you are a proud legacy that we cannot afford to let die.” Patrick Arnold said Pan Trinbago was proud to mark this moment when youth collectively grasps the baton of continuity and sets out on a run to another stage in what is perhaps the most crucial aspect of pan’s furtherance. “We are all aware that until now, a paucity of tuning talent has, in physical terms, delayed the advancement of pan,” Arnold concluded.