Nowhere for Panorama if Grand Stand goes

Arnold was responding to Prime Minister Manning’s announcement last weekend that the Grand Stand at the Queen’s Park Savannah was to be demolished, and a cultural centre be constructed in its place.

"I’ve been hearing about that over the years," said Arnold, "but I don’t have a clue for any such plan for the 2006 Carnival celebrations. I guess we’ll have to wait to see what will take place next year."

Arnold has just returned from New York where he headed the successful production of the World Steelband Music Festival at Madison Square Garden. During his three-month stay in the US, Arnold held several meetings with interested parties with a view to gaining additional international acclaim and opportunities for the steelband.

Arnold said he was unsure about where next year’s Panorama competition would be held if the Government goes through with its proposed demolition of the Grand Stand.

"I don’t know if it would be held in the streets," he stated, "or in the Hasely Crawford Stadium. If the NCC does have to move out of the Savannah, I don’t know where the Panorama would be held, especially if we’re going to charge people to see and hear the pan." He said he had been hearing for a long time that Carnival celebrations might be moved to the Mucurapo Foreshore, but he was not clear if such a move would be done in phases.

The Pan Trinbago president said it was possible for the Hasely Crawford Stadium to accommodate the Panorama competition and other Carnival events.

"Grenada held its Caribbean Panorama Competition in their national stadium by covering the track. This country was represented by Sagicor Exodus in the competition. There’s now a need for the country to have facilities to accommodate both sports and cultural events, just like what happens in Madison Square Garden in New York City," said Arnold.