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Trinidad and
Tobago, W.I.
- I am one
who always
admired the
courage and
strength of
the present
lady Mayor
of the city
of San
Fernando in
Trinidad &
Tobago,
Alderman
Marlene
Coudray,
more so when
she stood up
to a past
Prime
Minister who
tried to
impose his
will on her,
when she was
CEO of the
City
Corporation.
Now that she
is the
Mayor, her
utterances
as reported
in the
Trinidad
Guardian
newspaper
dated
Tuesday 23rd
2010, on the
cancelation
of the Pan
in the City
carded for
Sunday 21st
November
2010 on
Coffee
Street, are
very
unfortunate
and
disturbing
to Steelband
leaders in
and around
the City of
San
Fernando.
As one
involved in
Steelband
nearly all
my life, I
take
personal
offence, and
as such, I
must set the
record
straight, to
the extent
of risking
victimization
of my band.
Who are
these greedy
people that
were trying
to hold the
Mayor and
the
corporation
to ransom by
playing
politics?
Surely not
the leaders
of
Steelbands,
who have
been making
personal
sacrifices
over the
years to
keep this
Art form
alive, and
contributing
to the
holding of
the fabric
of our
fragile
society
together?
People who
have been
prosecuted
and
persecuted
from day one
to this very
day, by
their own
people, but
stood their
grounds so
that the
Steelpan can
be
recognized
as the
National
Instrument
of
Independent
Trinidad and
Tobago, and
be
appreciated
by people
all over the
world?
When one
talks about
playing
politics,
let me state
loud and
clear, that
my politics
never began
and ended
with voting
on Election
Day.
My very
existence
depends on
the
political
behaviour of
those
elected to
office, so
for me,
politics,
like the
Steelpan, is
my life and
the
Steelband
movement has
been a
casualty of
politics and
politicians
for years.
Steelband
and the
Panists have
being used
as a
convenient
political
football for
far too
long.
Imagine in
the year
2010, the
City
Corporation
of the
Industrial
capital of
Trinidad &
Tobago is
offering a
Steel
Orchestra,
three
thousand
dollars
(TT$3,000.00)
(circa USD
$475.00) to
perform in a
City
celebration,
and have the
audacity to
find them
greedy, if
they should
find that
figure
insulting.
I often
wonder if
they know
what it
takes to
prepare a
Steelband
for an
engagement
outside of
its yard.
Let me
inform.
Every night
of practice,
the leader
must have
money to
transport
players to
their homes.
During the
practice
sessions,
the leader
must provide
some sort of
refreshments,
even water
and
toiletries,
because
players are
coming to
the pan yard
straight
from work or
school. They
must find
money for
the arranger
if he should
do a tune or
two to
strengthen
the band's
repertoire.
It is very
important
that the
sound of the
band is
enhanced, so
blending of
the
instrument
is
necessary.
The band is
not out of
the yard as
yet and
three
thousand
dollars have
been spent.
Yet the
promoters
are telling
you that
they only
sending
transportation
for the
instruments,
and you must
provide your
own
refreshments
and
transport
for your
players. And
when you
tell them
that the
money cannot
compensate,
they find
you greedy
and playing
politics?
But I am yet
to see these
greedy
Steelband
leaders
living large
and enjoying
the finer
things in
life. As a
matter of
fact, most
of them who
don’t have a
proper
paying job
end up dying
poor, and
neglected by
their family
who find
that they
were stupid
for spending
so much of
their time
and what
little money
they had,
behind
Steelband.
Maybe some
politicians
believe that
they are
stupid too,
hence the
reason for
the
contemptuous
treatment.
Very often,
after an
engagement,
the
Steelband is
the last to
be paid and
payment
could take
months in
some
instances.
Everyone
else is
catered for
up front,
and we
“playing
politics” if
we refuse to
be misused
and abused?
The DJ, who
doesn’t have
to rehearse
nightly, is
better
compensated
than the
Steelband.
One
Calypsonian
making a
guest
appearance
and singing
one song is
better paid
than a
Steelband
with over
fifteen
players.
Come on, we
are the
unsung
heroes that
are making
sterling
contributions
in our
respective
communities,
by keeping
so many
young people
out of
criminal
activities
which seems
to be the
norm today.
We demand
more respect
and
appreciation
from those
in authority
who should
know better.
We are
helping to
make your
job easer,
stop the
disrespect
and insults.
We are no
longer
living in
the fifties
and sixties
when we were
forced to
accept
anything,
just for the
opportunity
to play to
an audience.
Steelband is
now a
professional
business
enterprise.
Madam Mayor,
I expect
higher
standards
and better
conditions
with you in
that
position;
please don’t
let me down.
Be very wary
of your
advisers,
especially
on matters
related to
Steelband.
Sanitas
Fortis!
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