Pandemonium

IT has to be truly appalling that the background to this sorry episode lies in the fact that 11 months after last Carnival, pannists remain unpaid their $1,000 Panorama appearance fee, a modest stipend that does not exactly equate to them asking for the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars.

Dozens of pannists protested for their money and against an alleged disrespect from their executive outside Pan Trinbago’s offices in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday, weeks after former vice president Byron Serrette, had voluntarily resigned citing dissatisfaction at the organisation, including the dubious purchase of luxury vehicles.

The protests came despite Culture Minister, Dr Nyan Gadsby- Dolly, assuring that her Ministry had sent the funds to Pan Trinbago (which has not denied this assurance). It is also against the backdrop of Pan Trinbago’s reported $30 million debt, and $1.6 million “lost” running last year’s Panorama. At least one band, irate at the non-payment, has vowed to boycott Panorama 2017.

An even stranger turn of events followed last Wednesday’s protest.

The next morning Diaz, was on television assuring that monies would be paid. Later that day, cheques were indeed in the hands of pannists.

However, when these cheques were presented for encashment, banks refused, saying insufficient funds were present.

Such a failing not only dashed the hopes of pannists but exposed Pan Trinbago’s leadership to ridicule and to the threat of prosecution.

However just as news came of the dishonouring of cheques came news that Diaz had suffered a heart attack, after which he yesterday reportedly underwent surgery by way of an angioplasty. With that also came word that Pan Trinbago has cancelled a meeting with members scheduled for today.

The protest, the bouncing of cheques and Diaz’s illness each illustrate the need for Pan Trinbago’s affairs to be put on a more professional footing, where for example the payment of members will not be derailed by the illhealth of the president.

Pan Trinbago is heavily subsidised by taxpayers’ funds, and so requires a high level of financial scrutiny.

The pannists are citizens of TT whose deprivation of pay must be a concern to the Government and various watchdogs of the public purse. Lastly, the Government’s subvention to the likes of Pan Trinbago is no mere gift but largely an investment to generate a return and boost TT’s creative and tourism sectors, both possible areas of economic diversification.

The sorry saga of the past 48 hours now demands attention by the Ministries of Finance and Culture, and by spending watchdogs, such as the Auditor General, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and Integrity Commission.

We welcome news from National Carnival Commission (NCC) head, Kenny Da Silva, that the NCC will look at the operations of Pan Trinbago and other groups, after Carnival.

This certainly is not an apt time to invoke the Trini dictum, “Carnival is bacchanal”, as there is nothing cute about pannists remaining unpaid, nor the President of their organisation lying seriously ill in a hospital bed.