Newly installed Port-of-Spain mayor Kerron Valentine received special mention when the Northern Region of Pan Trinbago Inc held its Evening of Appreciation last Friday at the VIP Lounge, Queen’s Park Savannah.
At age 30, the youngest ever mayor of the nation’s capital city, Valentine received accolades from programme host Earl Morris and Northern region chairman Gerard Mendez who proudly acclaimed Valentine as the first pan player to become a mayor of Port-of-Spain.
The evening was a delightful and tightly-run one in which the Northern Region presented plaques of achievement to its member steelbands for qualifying in the finals of the four categories in this year’s National Panorama competition.
Beside the mayor, among other guests in attendance were Imam Yasin Abu Bakr and PCL Financial official Daniel Lambert.
A special award was also presented to Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille for winning the FCL Financial-sponsored People’s Choice award on four occasions of the competition’s five-year duration. Also presented with a special award was Laventille Serenaders, its leader Anthony “Ben’ Up” Kinsale, receiving special mention by presenter Desiree Myers, secretary of the Northern Region and communications executive of CAL Invaders.
One of the surprise announcements on Friday is that, come Panorama 2017, small band Pandemonium Steel Orchestra will move up in class to compete in the medium category.
Mendez and Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz concurred that Pan Trinbago is facing challenging times. With Mendez sternly cautioning members of constricted economic times ahead, Diaz warned against complacency, urging the organisation’s membership to become self-sufficient and creative in identifying options to generate revenue.
Stating that Pan Trinbago is “under attack” from external forces, Diaz emphasised constant vigilance against individuals and organisations that are unsympathetic to the national instrument, and seem to desire the fragmentation of Pan Trinbago. Diaz stressed that Pan Trinbago had withstood more than five decades of struggle and added that pan folk must become more united and band together against negativism.
Diaz also gave a comprehensive account of indifference by successive governments and corporate T&T to supporting and signing on to initiatives by Pan Trinbago. He revealed that of 35 corporate entities approached to assist for this year’s National Panorama competition only seven responded. He appended this disclosure by revealing the exorbitant costs involved in bringing steelbands from Tobago and accommodating them during the competition.
The Pan Trinbago president said that his executive and the steelband movement continue to be proactive in promoting “domestic tourism,” citing its Pan in De Countryside project, now in its sixth year, as one of its successful initiatives.
Diaz said to date neither the tourism ministry and tourism agencies, or the corporate sector have assisted Pan Trinbago in this venture, despite the obvious benefits it accrues to the communities in which it is held.
Mendez said the Northern Region is lobbying the parent body to establish a youth arm of Pan Trinbago Inc. He lauded the many young people who are involved in steelbands and Pan Trinbago projects.
During and after the programme, entertainment was provided by Martin Cain’s Roadblock steel ensemble, featuring his twin children Deja and Deshaun. To open Friday’s programme prayers were also said by former Massy Trinidad All Stars captain John “Poison” Douglas.
After a vote of thanks by Northern Region treasurer Kenneth Kerr, guests were treated to a sumptuous East Indian dinner by Dune Ali’s Rib House caterers.
Pan Trinbago will close its offices tomorrow as its members embark on its annual retreat at the Point Fortin Beach Facility.
On Saturday, Pan Trinbago Inc, with assistance from Agriculture Land & Fisheries Minister Clarence Rambharat, will host Pan in De Countryside at the panyard of Tamana Pioneers, at 2 pm.
A farmers’ market and tour to the Tamana bat caves are also on the day’s programme, and will precede the actual steelband performances by 2016 National Panorama champion Desperadoes, Sangre Grande Cordettes, Siparia Diatonics, Star Sapphire, Option1 and Tamana Pioneers.