Trinidad -
As Project Coordinator of
the Pan In The Classroom
Unit of the Curriculum
Development Division of the
Ministry of Education, I
must respond to this posting
to clear the good name of,
not only the Unit, but also
that of the Ministry of
Education.
In my capacity as Project
Coordinator, I also serve as
Convenor of the Joint
Committee of the Ministry of
Education, Pan Trinbago,
Inc. and the Pan In Schools
Coordinating Council that is
planning for the National
Junior Steelband Music
Festival. Let me assure all
members of the steelband
fraternity that a
representative from pan
Trinbago, Inc. has:
- attended each meeting of
the committee;
- participated fully in
all discussions; and
- agreed with all
decisions taken thus far.
If, for some reason, Officers
of Pan Trinbago, Inc. are
unaware of this, then that
speaks to weaknesses in the
internal processes of Pan
Trinbago, Inc. Further, given
the good personal relations that
I have enjoyed with Mr. Joseph
and other members of the
executive of his organisation, I
am at a loss to understand why
he could not pick up the 'phone
and call me to clear up any
miscommunication.
I also take this opportunity
to remind Mr. Joseph, that it is
a decision of the Cabinet of the
Government of Trinidad and
Tobago that the Ministry of
Education has the lead
responsibility and provides
funding for the National Junior
Steelband Music Festival and the
National Junior Panorama.
I view it, therefore, as a
personal attack on me (and on
members of staff of the Pan In
The Classroom Unit) when Mr.
Joseph asserts that "officers
within (the) Ministry... choose
to undermine and disrespect Pan
Trinbago."
In light of the fact that Pan
Trinbago, Inc. has been fully
represented (although apparently
unbeknownst to Mr. Joseph), I
call upon Mr. Joseph to
immediately issue an apology for
this scurrilous attack.
I await his response.
Victor N. Prescod, Project
Coordinator, Pan In The
Classroom Unit, Curriculum
Development Division, Ministry
of Education, Government of the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.