Pan Trinbago cries ‘broke’

TOBAGO’S “Champs in Concert” is in jeopardy this year. Pan Trinbago has said it had no funds for the show, as it was short of $200,000. The Champs in Concert has been deemed a financial loss in Tobago by Pan Trinbago President Patrick Arnold, who told Newsday unless a sponsor was sourced, there would be no show on Saturday. “No one supports the show. If it is a Comedy Fest that would surely sell out,” Arnold said. Arnold said funds allocated for the Panorama season were used as prize monies, so there was nothing left for the show. “The lodging for the artistes and transportation cost Pan Trinbago a lot of money. Usually we would use the money made at the gates from the National Panorama semi-finals and finals, but ticket sales were not good this year,” said Arnold.

For the concert, 300 people would have to be catered for and only one steelband might be able to make the trip. “We have six steelband winners from four various categories. If we carried all the pan sides, we would be in trouble. Last year it was Exodus, this year it would be Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove,” said Arnold. “Calypsonians are also charging high fees to perform at the show, and we do not have that kind of money to pay them,” said Arnold. Arnold is hoping that Government or the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), would assist in the venture, as things are still being put into place for the show. However, an official from the THA’s Carnival Development Committee (CDC) told Newsday she heard nothing about a show in Tobago this year, saying it was Pan Trinbago’s responsibility to organise the venture.