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 Trinidad
& Tobago -
Trinidad and Tobago missed a golden opportunity to
‘sell’ steelband to the visiting heads of states who came
for the 5th Summit of the Americas. Try to imagine the level
of publicity that could have been generated if we had given
a tenor pan, a stand, a case and a pair of sticks to each
visiting head of state.
Look at the sudden rise in popularity of a book given by Mr.
Chavez to Mr. Obama, it became an instant bestseller. All the
front pages of our dailies carried a photo of the US
president playing a batting stroke with his gift from Brian
Lara.
These two incidents indicated to me that we are still a bit
shy when it comes to our national instrument. It would have
cost us a miniscule part of the summit budget to have our
finest Tuners prepare thirty-three tenors for the visitors -
each engraved with the head of state’s name to personalize
the gift.
The purpose of this gesture is to sensitize the leaders of a
product we make here that can be of use to their country.
The USA, Canada and the other Caribbean territories already
have established steelbands for many years now. The emphasis
would have been on South and Central America.
 There are more than six hundred million people living in
countries between Mexico and Chile. If we can succeed in
selling steelbands and the related products to this market
then we can earn foreign currency, generate employment and
make a meaningful contribution to the development of our
economy.
Although we are close geographically, we seem to be far away
from Central and South America. Our trade and migration
patterns that have evolved turn our heads towards the north
rather than south. In countries to our north steelbands have
been flourishing for years…Canada, USA and Western Europe
have hundreds of bands. They have it on the curriculum at
schools and universities, they even have factories producing
instruments and accessories.
One web-site shows that there are very few steelbands in
South and Central America. Brazil, with the largest
population, has one band with a steelband instrument. Steelband was introduced in Chile by a Frenchman who went to
live there some years ago. There are some bands in Central
America….Belize, Costa Rica and Panama.
Steelband instruments can fetch as much as $3,500 US per
unit; accessories like stands, sticks and cases can also
generate profits. Then there is the software, the music, the
arrangements, the teaching methods for tutoring students,
all of which can create income and employment. There are the
Trinidad and Tobago steelbands that can tour to give live
performances to promote these products.
Many steelbands can benefit from the opening up of this new
market. In the 1980’s a steelband from China made a
successful tour of Central America. There are many festivals
and opportunities for steelband performances in this part of
the world; for this to happen, Trinidad and Tobago must make
the first move.
This is nothing new to us in Trinidad and Tobago, we have
been doing it for years in the countries of the north. The
question that poses itself is…”why are we not attempting to
do the same in South and Central America?”
For me, the responsibility for this effort lies with the
steelband organization, Pan Trinbago. They were supposed to
have this idea placed on the agenda for the summit, they
should have ensured that the matter be discussed and
debated. If the Trinidad and Tobago government refused then
find some other approach.
 The leader of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and the leader of Antigua and Barbuda, Mr. Baldwin
Spencer, are both panmen. We could have asked them to act
for us. They might have felt honoured to make the case on
behalf of the steelband fraternity.
Everyday in the newspaper there are reports of the economy
in trouble, big companies are going under, workers are
losing their jobs and governments are cutting back on
expenditure. The news on the economic front is gloomy to say
the least.
Here is an opportunity to create markets for our steelband
in a densely populated part of the world with countries that are our neighbours.
With them - we share similarities in history and traditions
- much more so than with the countries of the north with which we are
familiar. In fact Latin American music dominated the
repertoires of TASPO, Southern Symphony and Merrymakers when
they were presenting steelband music to audiences all over
the world in the 50’s and 60’s. Today many bands play music
by composers of South and Central America.
By giving a tenor, a case, a stand and a pair of sticks to
each leader, we would have been symbolically giving the instrument
to their respective country. Some may have become curious immediately while
others may have needed more convincing. We could have given
a “How to Play” book and a list of prices for the various
instruments of the orchestra. Throw in a few steelband CD’s
and we have a complete package. While costing little, there
are huge commercial benefits that could have been derived
from this simple gesture.
 It is not as if Trinidad and Tobago does not need the
business. There are millions of dollars to be made right
here in the Americas (South and Central) by introducing
steelband to those territories. Think about the amount of
schools in Latin America, start with a few then we can think
about expanding. We can control that market with our
steelband products.
There is a problem of language, most of those countries
speak Spanish while 200 million Brazilians speak Portuguese.
We somehow were able to overcome that problem in Japan,
France, Switzerland and Germany, where there are hundreds of steelbands with players who speak little or no English.
In some of the countries there may be more favourable
conditions for the promotion of steelbands. The Minister of
Culture of Brazil is the world renowned musician, Gilberto
Gil, a Grammy Award winner on several occasions; he may be
open to discussions of the possibilities for steelband in
his country.
 Ruben Blades is the Minister of Culture of Panama, he is an
internationally renowned singer who sold millions of
records. He has performed in all parts of the world with his
band. In 1991 we met at the Paleo Festival in Nyon,
Switzerland where Pamberi Steel Orchestra opened for his
band. We chatted a while and he admitted his fascination at
the instrument.
It is my view that we lost a golden opportunity to promote
the steelband at the last summit. When the economies of
these states continue to shrink more people will be out of
jobs. There may be more time for leisure and the development
of artistic creativity, steelbands can definitely play a
role in these societies that are affected.
If only we could see ourselves as leaders and not followers
then we may be able to grasp the moment in time to promote
our instrument, our music and our country. We may be small
in size and numbers, but we are large on creativity and
influence on the world of music.
The truth is that if Trinidad fails to act now then in a few
years the pan factories of the north will become the
suppliers of steelband instruments, accessories and
personnel to the markets of South and Central America.
Millions of dollars to be made will be lost, opportunities
for our people will be denied and another country will
benefit.
This is what has happened in the last twenty years, the
global expansion of pan has benefited foreign economies more
than that of Trinidad and Tobago. Are we going to allow this
to happen in the potentially lucrative markets of South and
Central America??
Over to you Pan Trinbago…. the world governing body for
steelband!
By Nestor Sullivan
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Independent Commentary
Nestor Sullivan
Manager
Pamberi Steel Orchestra
San Juan
Trinidad and Tobago W.I.
All pictures are courtesy and copyright the Fifth Summit of
The Americas
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