Trinidad &
Tobago, W.I.
– On
August 30th
1991,
Steelband
was
officially
declared the
National
Instrument
of Trinidad
and Tobago,
and rightly
so I may
say. Any
other
Instrument
indigenous
to TnT and
wish to lay
claim, must
be able to
stand up on
its own and
play our
National
Anthem. Nuff
said.
The
Steelband
fraternity
has always
celebrated
August as
Steelband
month in
Trinidad and
Tobago. But,
this year’s
celebrations
started with
a bonus in
the middle
of July,
when on the
evening of
Thursday,
July 16th,
2009, the
President of
our Republic
His
Excellency
Professor
George
Maxwell
Richards and
Her
Excellency
Mrs. Jean
Ramjohn-Richards,
hosted the
Executive of
Pan
Trinbago,
and members
of the
Silver Stars
Steelband,
the Sforzata
Steelband,
the Arima
Golden
Symphony
Steelband,
the LH Pan
Groove
Steelband,
all winners
of the
Large,
Medium,
Small and
Traditional
Categories
for Panorama
2009,
together
with two
representative
of the
finalist
bands coming
out of
Panorama
2009, to a
cocktail
reception at
the official
residence.
It was such
a lovely way
to spend an
evening with
Pan Men and
Pan Women
all dressed
to impress.
This is the
third
consecutive
year, and
the
Steelband
fraternity
is very
appreciative,
for we see
this as His
Excellency’s
contribution
towards
raising the
bar, giving
the pannist
a greater
sense of
value and
pride in
themselves
and the
National
Instrument.
On Friday,
17th July,
2009, at
Preysal High
School in
Central
Trinidad, the
Ministry of
Education’s
Curriculum
Development
Division,
Pan in the
Classroom
Project
Unit, held
the Closing
Ceremony of
a National
Teachers
Training
Workshop for
the
Incorporation
of the
Steelpan
into the
Primary
School Music
Curriculum.
This is a
project in
collaboration
with Pan
Trinbago,
and the
Public
Relations
Officer of
the
organization
represented
the
President in
bringing
greetings to
the
participants.
Saturday,
18th July,
2009, the
first line
leadership
of Pan
Trinbago,
(Central and
Regional
Executive
Officers),
was invited
to
participate
in a
three-day
workshop on
Leadership
in Voluntary
Organizations,
at the
Arthur Lok
Jack
Graduate
School of
Business -
The
University
of the West
Indies.
This is in
keeping with
promises
made by the
Honorable
Marlene
McDonald,
Minister of
Community
Development,
Culture and
Gender
Affairs at
our monthly
meetings.
The expected
outcome is
the
strengthening
of the
Leadership
to better
understand
its role in
meeting the
challenges
of the
future as
they take
Pan Trinbago
toward 2020
and beyond.
The action
involving
Pan Lovers
started
during the
night of
Saturday,
18th July,
when the Pan
in the
Community
Project
organized by
the Ministry
of Community
Development,
Culture and
Gender
Affairs, in
collaboration
with Pan
Trinbago,
was
officially
launched by
the
Honorable
Minister at
the TCL
Group
Skiffle
Bunch Pan
Theatre on
Coffee
Street in
San
Fernando,
South
Trinidad.
The first in
a projected
number of
free
Steelband
Concerts to
be held
across
Trinidad and
Tobago
brought Pan
Lovers from
as far as La
Horquetta in
the East to
enjoy the
music of TCL
Skiffle
Bunch who
lit the fire
from the
first note,
followed by
Caribbean
Airlines
Invaders who
took it to a
blaze, only
to have
WITCO
Desperados
together
with the
massive
audience
dance in the
fire as if
they were
walking in
the rain and
not wanting
to shelter.
By the time
NLCB
Fonclaire
took to the
stage, the
audience was
wet with
perspiration
and only
shouting
“More, Fonclaire,
more!” And
the band
never for a
moment
disappointed.
“Is ah long
time I ent
see people
fete like
that in ah
Pan
Shindig”.
The
Honorable
Minister and
her
entourage
reluctantly
left at
about 11:50
p.m., and I
know that it
was only
because of
the distance
they had to
travel that
forced them
to leave.
Caribbean
Airlines
Invaders
took to the
stage for
their second
round at
about 12:15
a.m., and
there was
still no
water to out
the fire.
TCL Group
Skiffle
Bunch ended
the show
with only
steam rising
out of their
Pan Theatre
on Sunday
morning. The
fire was
only
quenched by
the
perspiration
of Pan
Lovers who
came out in
their
numbers and
enjoyed
themselves
to the
fullest.
The program
continues
every Sunday
in a
different
community
across
Trinidad and
Tobago until
the end of
August. Pan
Lovers and
interested
persons are
asked to
look in the
Press, visit
Pan Trinbago’s
website and
listen to
their
favorite
Steelband
program on
Radio for
information
about where
the next Pan
in the
Community
Program will
be held.
We aim to
bring back
LOVE in the
Hearts of
our people
and
Communities
through
Steelband
MUSIC.
Michael L.
Joseph
Public
Relations
Officer
Pan Trinbago
World
Governing
Body For
Steelpan
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