Stage set for Panorama semis today

A TOTAL of 45 steelbands will cross the stage of the Queen’s Park Savannah during today’s Panorama semi-final, the first major competition of the Carnival season to take place at that venue. Southern Marines Steelband, a semi-finalist  in the Small Conven-tional Bands category will be the first band on stage when the competition gets going at 9 am. In all 14 bands will be competing in that category, with 14 more Medium Conventional Bands and 17 Large Conventional Bands also due to take part.

The event is popularly known as the Savannah Party and hundreds of patrons have already shelled out $150 each for seats in the North Stand, the most popular vantage point from which to take in the performance. From all reports, however, up to late yesterday sales of tickets for the Grand Stand were also going at a steady clip. Pan Trinbago President Patrick Arnold has assured that the organisation is fully prepared to stage the event and are expecting to take charge of the venue from 6 am today to work out any last-minute details. “We will be ready,” he insisted.