Panorama 2017 is on

Originally scheduled to begin on Wednesday last, amidst all the uncertainty of who will be staging the event and if pan players were going to boycott the competitions to protest lack of payment for 2016, the start of the competition was put on hold.

Coming out of the last meeting between band representatives and Pan Trinbago executive members on Tuesday at City Hall, Port-of-Spain, spokesman for some of the disgruntled players, Dane Gulston, told Newsday, “We came to a compromise in terms of where Panorama and elections (of an executive) are concerned. We agreed for the executive to continue until after carnival and for Panorama to go on.” However when asked if the executive had consented to stepping down after Carnival and the players’ proposed interim team handle the business of Pan Trinbago for a 90-day period, Gulston answered in the negative.

He also pulled back on the circular that was out on social media, containing names like Keith Byer, Desiree Myers, Keron Valentine and Nigel Williams to form an interim executive committee, stating that it was just a mere proposal but none of the persons were approached on the subject.

And with talk that the National Carnival Commission (NCC) may be taking over the running of Panorama, questioned how he felt about that possibility Gulston said: “I personally wish that the NCC will join with Pan Trinbago to run Panorama the right way.” He explained that included using Pan Trinbago personnel to take care of the human resource factor and for the NCC to control the finances.

He added, “My stance is what is right for the panman. Yes we still have things pending like the players’ remittance but Panorama has to go on. I know there is also talk of the $1,000 being reduced to $500 for the players. Basically it seems that the government and the Minister wants the executive changed so I know it will have to change but we will deal with it after carnival.”