What utter rubbish

Please be informed that the patent of the pan by some foreigners is simply the process of sinking or pressing the drum in a concave position. Patent of the Pan will be done by the different ranges of the instrument, for example — Tenor, Double Tenor, Double Second, Quadrophonic, Double Guitar, Three Cello, Four Cello, High Bass, Six Bass and Nine Bass that make up the entire ensemble.

I agree that the building on the highway is an eyesore, but the State promised to complete the job two years ago. Pan Trinbago does not run Carnival, that is the State’s responsibility, and Panorama is just a part of Carnival. We work for the State, we contribute to the overall windfall of approximately six hundred million dollars, which is collected by the Treasury as taxes over the Carnival period — this figure was quoted by the Minister of Tourism — The Honourable Howard Chin Lee. So we do not have to beg, it is our right to demand a fair share of the pie (the $600 million).

We hear one tune being played in the panyard during the lead up to the Panorama competition because that is the requirement of the competition. On Carnival Monday and Tuesday, where do you go Mr Ayoung Chee? The steelbands play all the popular calypsos on Jouvert morning, Monday night and Carnival Tuesday.

Just leave the transportation problem alone. My band — NLCB Fonclaire has been travelling to Port-of-Spain for years because of where we are based — San Fernando. The bands that are situated in and around Port-of-Spain, their transportation is nothing compared with the bands from the East, Tobago and San Fernando, so we have to live with it, as without it (transportation) we will not be able to earn from the Panorama competition, so the transportation is an integral part of the band’s performance.

After Carnival what next? Pan In The 21st Century and Pan Down Memory Lane sponsored by TSTT; Pan On The Move in Point Fortin; World Steelband Music Festival; Junior Steelband Music Festival; Republic Pan Fiesta and the list goes on and on. Whoever gave you the information on Steelbands, send them by me.

Free French died a natural death but spawned Panosonic Connection at Victoria Village in San Fernando. Mr Lennox “Bobby” Mohammed’s expressed wish was to leave steelband because of health problems, but Flamingoes (they are not longer referred to as Gay) and Harmonites (People’s Choice in the Medium Band Category, and eighth placed in this year’s competition) are still around and doing marvellous work. Do not kill them off before their time.

So kind sir, get your facts right before you write and make a fool of yourself. Get in your car and drive to the various panyards in Trinidad and Tobago, then come back and quote the names of the bands and their yards that have a galvanised shed and are considered an unofficial panyard.

Sir, if you want information on pan and all the problems that pan goes through, please feel free to call on me any time at Pan Trinbago.