Little pan for pan month

No official schedule of events for Pan Month has been issued as was done in the past. The events that have come off thus far are pan exhibitions in Port of Spain and San Fernando, a church service at Trinity Cathedral and a visit to the Foundation Stone at the back of the St Paul Complex.

Among the upcoming events are the east leg of the pan exhibition at the Arima Tennis Court, on August 25 and the Play One for Patrick Manning at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on August 30.

However, shows cancelled owing to lack of funding are Pan in de Countryside, the Northern Region Pan Lime and the Northern Region Republic Day Show that was carded for next month.

Contacted yesterday and asked if his office was closed due to non-activity, Gerard Mendez, head of the Northern Region office of Pan Trinbago, responded: “No, I am in the office now. The office is not closed. The Northern Region Office, despite the acute financial circumstances under which we exist, continues to operate open.

“It is common knowledge that salaries have not been paid for the month of July. Nevertheless, the staff continues to operate.” However, calls to the office trunk lines went unanswered as did calls to the Eastern Region office.

David Balbosa, head of the San Fernando Region, said: “We have been making out because we understand what is happening.” He added that his office had been operating normally. But asked when staff were last paid, he answered: “I think you have to direct that to the treasurer in Port of Spain.” Later in the day, Newsday caught up with Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz who, when asked about the running of the regional offices, said: “I’m not responding to that. Because the last time I respond to that it went on a big thing... Because we’re facing a scenario that was made public already and people went and do all kinda thing against Pan Trinbago.

“We are trying to see if we could address our matters internally and then I will respond.”