‘When you say Ramsey, you say pan’

Ramsey-Moore, a dominant figure on Tobago’s cultural landscape, created history in 2012 when she became the first woman to contest the presidency of the world’s governing body for the steelpan.

She, however, lost in her bid to incumbent Keith Diaz, who is also seeking re-election.

Vernon Peter Morancie, chairman of Pan Trinbago’s Eastern Region, is also contesting the position.

In an interview on Thursday, Ramsey- Moore, an intake specialist/coordinator of the Liaison Unit of Central Administrative Services, Tobago, said her decision to vie for the top post was two-fold.

Firstly, she claimed that Pan Trinbago, which has been in existence since 1971, lacked proper accountability “As a delegate at Pan Trinbago’s meetings for a number of years, I recognised that the organisation needed proper structure and to be much more organised,” she said.

“The issue of transparency and accountability is something that has been plaguing the organisation.” Ramsey-Moore also recalled that when she was elected Assistant Secretary of Pan Trinbago’s Central Executive in October 2009, “I recognised that we were not operating as though we were in the 21st century.” The former Assemblywoman told Sunday Newsday that she and fellow executive member, Keith Simpson, subsequently resigned from their positions “because we were trying to raise the bar in terms of how the organisation operated, with professionalism, and we just could not succeed.” She added: “I think as a woman, they (leadership) always saw me as a rabble-rouser or somebody that is always complaining and they felt that because I served as a member of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), I was trying to run Pan Trinbago as though I was in the THA. But, I wanted to keep the high moral ground and I did not want my name to be associated with mismanagement and that sort of thing, so I decided to resign.” For example, she recalled her dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Africa Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan Development Company, was to be set up in Africa without executive approval and financial rules.

“I don’t understand how you could have been operating an organisation that was spending millions of dollars and there are no rules guiding anything,” she complained.

Secondly, Ramsey- Moore believes that pan should be much more than just competition.

“Pan is an industry and, as such, we need to have more of an impact on the human capital, those who play the pan, what are we doing for them?” she asked.

Ramsey-Moore said Pan Trinbago must see pan as a vehicle for social transformation in relation to poverty reduction, crime prevention and empowerment.

Hailed as the pride of Black Rock, Katzenjammers was established some 63 years ago and is the longest serving steelband in Tobago. Ramsey- Moore said her father and five uncles founded the band, which was next door to their home in Black Rock.

“I have been involved in pan all my life. When you say Ramsey, you say pan,” she joked.

For this no-nonsense leader, however, Katzenjammers is not just a steelband but an institution.

“In the panyard, we are an institution, a business that is contributing to the development of the island.

It is a sacred space and a place of dignity,” said Ramsey-Moore, who has been the band’s manager since 2003.

She said the band was underpinned by a philosophy of discipline, excellence and a desire to empower lives through music.

Under her stewardship, Ramsey-Moore has made the Petrotrin Katzenjammers a household name and is a sought-after ensemble at many social events.

Among other victories, the band claimed the Tobago Panorama titles in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Katzenjammers also won the Pan in the 21st Century titles in 2004 and 2008 and was the champion Panorama band (Medium category) at the National Panorama competition in 2011 and 2012.

Ramsey-Moore said she is passionate about the artform and its earning potential.

“I have a passion for the pan man, the pan woman,” she said.

“I have seen a lot of our players, especially those from Trinidad, who see the season of Panorana as the season where they can make money and you see them moving from band to band because that is the period where they make the most money.

“But, I want to see more than that for them. They need to be empowered to build themselves where they can save and get into business and get meaningful world. You must not remain a hustler for the balance of your life. That is the role that I want to play, to transform lives and give people the power to move