RBC Redemption Sound Setters out Panorama 2017

Marie Toby, manager of the RBC Redemption Sound Setters, said yesterday the band was in the process of despatching a letter to their sponsors, RBC, informing them of the decision.

Asked what was the reason for pulling out Toby, in a telephone interview said: “The players are not coming out as they should. I don’t know if the controversy (with Pan Trinbago) that is going on have anything to do with it, but they decided that they are not coming out...they are not getting the vibes and what have you.” However Toby said that their players each got their $1,000 remittance, for the 2016 competition, last week, but stated: “In all the preparation, you got to have the vibes and the energy to go into competition.

We will normally start to practice in October but we didn’t start until November. I also did a survey as chairman of the region for all the other bands and the cry is that players are not coming out.” In defence of the decision to forego the 2017 competition Toby said: “Everybody manages differently. I am not going to see something staring me in my face and go into it hoping that two weeks away from a competition that the players will come out.” With respect to Solo Harmonites, captain Shelford Lawrence told Newsday: “The band just changed management and went down to a low, and the sponsor pulled out because of that. We are now working on building back up the band but we will be on the road on Carnival Monday and Tuesday from j’ouvert. After all we are four time champions (1968, 1971, 1972, 1974), but our junior band will be going to the Junior Panorama competition.

Meanwhile a number of single pan bands, especially in the Eastern Region, whose members are yet to receive their remittances, have indicated that they will not be ready for any competition next week, January 22 and 23, when judges will be visiting their pan yards.

The Tobago Single Pan preliminary will take place on Thursday, South/Central on January 20 and 21, East on January 22 and 23 and North on January 24, 25 and 26.