Minister: It was all Pan Trinbago’s fault

Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams laid the blame for the confusion at last Sunday’s Panorama semi-finals squarely on Pan Trinbago’s doorstep. Speaking at a post-Cabinet news conference, Yuille-Williams said the mess over the accommodation for the Tobago bands and the fact that patrons had tickets but were not allowed to enter the stands, were the result of poor planning by Pan Trinbago, whose duty it was to organise the event. Nevertheless she apologised to patrons who were unable to enter the Savannah.

On the issue of accommodation, Yuille-Williams said Pan Trinbago, which runs the competition, knew on Wednesday how many bands would be coming from Tobago, but they made no provisions prior to that, for the accommodation of the players. She said when she saw Pan Trinbago officials on Thursday night they told her they were looking for places. Then she heard nothing from them on Friday. On Saturday she got a call “from Tobago” saying there were 500 people from the sister isle in the Savannah. Yuille-Williams, who immediately came to PoS,  said when she spoke to the bandleaders, they said they were told to “get to the Savannah,” but had no idea where they were going to be housed. Yuille-Williams said no bookings were made for them. “So on that morning I went to the Centre of Excellence and looked at other places to see what could be done. And we had to spend the whole day trying to get places,” she said.

Yuille-Williams said she was first told that THA was picking up the tab. But since then, she said, she had received a letter from the Tobago branch of Pan Trinbago asking that the Ministry of Culture foot the bill. Annoyed that it was being said the Ministry of Culture was stingy, Yuille-Williams said, “Far from it. The ministry has given Pan Trinbago increased subventions for this year. Furthermore all returns from shows stay with the organisation,” she added. Yuille-Williams said she noticed that Pan Trinbago South had entered the picture, “graciously” claiming that the ministry “was running their Panorama.” “And I have got a bill from them for $1.6 million. This is how things happen and the ministry seems to be the one that is not responding, but it is not our responsibility,” she said.

Stating it was clearly a problem of planning, Yuille-Williams said the ministry did institutional strengthening with TUCO and clearly had now to do it with Pan Trinbago. Speaking on the ministry’s plans for Carnival, Yuille-Williams promised a Dimanche Gras show like no other. It would be five hours long, but the minister assured that there would be “no boredom.” She said the police had given permission for Jouvert to start earlier this year (4 am) because of the good behaviour last year. The theme for this year, is “Cherish the Carnival.” Another highlight, she said, would be the enactment of the Camboulay riots at 5 am next Friday at All Stars Panyard. Traditional characters would roam the streets of Port-of-Spain symbolising freedom. Then at 10 am the action moves to Brian Lara Promenade.