How to establish pan’s origin

THE EDITOR: This Government proposes another “infamous” committee to recommend “the implementation of a legal structure to prevent individuals etc such as non-nationals from copying and exploiting the Pan.” What a load of absolute rubbish, waste of time and money. Don’t patents run out? And who is going to stop a “foreigner” with Trini links from developing the pan further? How were the car, the computer, the telephone, the fridge, the vacuum cleaner, and a host of other everyday items too numerous to name developed from their initial invention? And the jet engine? Ten years ago I wrote emphasising the need to establish the origin of the steelpan and suggested ways to do it example a motif of the single pan on all postage stamps, the same logo on all sporting representative team jerseys to become synonymous with the fern leaf of New Zealand, the kangaroo of Australia, the globe of Brazil, the orange of Holland, and so on. I stressed this again three to four years ago.

Instead we have a mamaguy from a minister. The introduction of the two above ideas would 1) Establish the origin of the instrument and 2) encourage international recognition of the pan as a musical instrument originating in TT. There must be a host of other ideas that would spread the pan to the world. Having established the origin, with All World Championships for Pan being held here, the development of pan and its acceptance in all national orchestras as a musical instrument comparable with the saxophone, clarinet, violin, piano etc would naturally follow. One wonders what’s left for the committee to do. Maybe they could change the terms of reference and have them implement these and other suggestions.

DALLAS KIDMAN
Petit Valley