Solo Pan Knights suffer $.4M losses

BARATARIA-BASED Solo Pan Knights has suffered a major setback in its preparations for the 2005 National Panorama competition, as its pan theatre, which housed its instruments was gutted by fire. According to reports, area residents were awakened by the smell of smoke around 3.15 am yesterday and on investigation, saw the wooden building, which housed the band and a small parlour, engulfed in flames. Fire appliances from the Morvant and Barataria Stations responded to the call. Owen Serrette, governing director of Solo Pan Knights, told Newsday the police told him they suspected arson. “They said they got a strong smell of kerosene around the building, and there were several burnt tyres seen at the back of the building,” he said. Serrette said the police were scheduled to return to the scene around 6 pm yesterday to conduct a forensic investigation. In his preliminary assessment of losses, Serrette estimated damage to be in the vicinity of $400,000.

The instruments and other valuables were not insured. He said, “Just after Panorama 2004, we met with our sponsor and had all our painted mid-range instruments chromed. We also purchased new frontline pans. All those instruments have been destroyed along with the band’s percussion kit. Apart from the goods in the parlour, we also had a refrigerator and stove and those too, are gone.” Pan Knights participated in the Ministry of Education’s “Pan In The Classroom” project and rented pans to Tranquillity Government Secondary and St Augustine Senior Comprehensive Schools for training. Pans from “Tranquil” were returned only last Friday. For now the only instruments the band owns are bass pans which were housed in its rehearsal room, a few feet away from the storage room and those still at St Augustine Senior Comprehensive.

Two weeks ago, Pan Knights began rehearsal for Panorama 2005, which is one month away. Despite this major setback, however, Serrette is determined to have his band compete in the steelband event. He said, “We cannot approach our sponsor for more money after all that was spent earlier this year, but we are going to Panorama. Whether we have to borrow or beg for pans. TTEC had to disconnect our supply of electricity due to the fire. If we have to use lanterns, that’s what we will use to prepare for the competition.” Reigning National Panorama champion Exodus Steel Orchestra has already, offered assistance and so too has Pan Trinbago. Serrette is calling on Government for assistance to help the band compete in Panorama 2005. San Fernando-based TCL Group Skiffle Bunch almost suffered a similar fate three weeks ago when its Coffee Street panyard caught fire, as welding sparks lit the dry leaves on a shed on the compound. Fortunately, fire officers responded in time to put out that blaze.