Entertainers protest over Phase II removal

Dr Pat Bishop, musical director of the Lydian Singers, international trumpeter Ettiene Charles and veteran calypsonian Relator (Willard Harris) publicly protested moves by the developers to "uproot," the band from its present location.

Describing the situation as nonsense, Dr Bishop said, "You can’t move a steelband for so. It is for the people and by the people. This is not just a pan yard and we have come to sing songs, some solemn songs and we will do the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ which is quite appropriate, since this situation requires a battle of some kind."

Charles, who is a product of Phase II, thanked the band for inspiring him since 1983 and said for him, the band’s pan yard was a place of dreams and because of that space, he was now able to make those dreams a reality.

Relator in his own inimitable style said, "Phase II’s pan yard is sacred ground; it’s spiritual. We nah leaving."

Judging from the response of the capacity audience at Phase II’s presentation of Pan Yard Sensation, staged by the Tourism Development Company Limited in collaboration with Pan Trinbago, the utterances from these artistes were well placed and timed.

Damian Street, Woodbrook, has been the home of Phase II Pan Groove for over 20 years, but a posh housing scheme called One Woodbrook Place between the HCL Group and land owner, the Port-of-Spain City Corporation required the relocation of several entities, among them Phase II Pan Groove, PCS Nitrogen Starlift Steel Orchestras and the Transport Division of the City Corporation.

Starlift and the City Corporation’s Transport Division are now located at Mucurapo Road, where a structure has also been erected for Phase II. The management of Phase II has resisted efforts by the developers to remove them from the band’s present piece of real estate since 2004.

However, the action effected by these musicians did not impact on the quality performances from the cast. The evening’s programme was one of sheer musical delight for all and sundry.

Selections from the band’s repertoire that won much applause were "Storm Watch," a piece composed by Len "Boogsie" Sharpe in the wake of Hurricane Emily, and John Lennon’s "Imagine."