Former minister in the previous
government administration Junia
Regrello called a press conference
today, in response to allegations
made by Trinidad and Tobago’s
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan last
Friday, and notification that the
Government proposes taking legal
action against
G-pan inventor
Professor Brian Copeland and three
associates for profiting from sales
of the G-pan. According to the
Patent
application publication on file, the
Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
government is listed as the
assignee. Copeland is a director of the Panadigm Innovation Ltd Company (PIL)
which was incorporated to facilitate
the commercialization of the G-pan.
Regrello resigned from the company
in 2007.
Junia
Regrello at press conference
In the
press conference held at his San
Fernando west constituency office
Regrello said, and released the
following as his official
statement:-
“In
April of 2006, Professor Brian
Copeland and I were requested by the
Prime Minister to address some of
the issues such as the limitations
and other such challenges facing the
Steel Pan industry. Out of those
concerns, the Genesis Pan or G-Pan
was conceptualized.
Its
prime objective was to firmly
entrench Trinidad and Tobago as the
unquestionable leader in the global
steel pan industry, while ensuring
that the innovation in the
technology of steel pan preparation
spanned all critical aspects of the
physical instrument including shape,
form, ergonomics and materials.
Panadigm:
was formed as a vehicle for managing
all of the intellectual property
issues arising. The company’s main
objective was to provide the
productive capacity that enabled a
viable steel pan industry through
professional engineering and
technical works supported by
relevant research and development
activity.
The G
Pans were officially launched on
July 14th 2007 at the University of
the West Indies. Our responsibility
at the time was to outfit the
National Steel Symphony Orchestra
with a complete set of G-pans which
we were unable to do due to
insufficient instruments, as tuning
and other technicalities impacted
the outcome. It was only possible to
complete the pans for the NSSO
(National Symphony Steel Orchestra) in
2008, one year after the launch.
By letter dated
December 6, 2007, I tendered my
resignation from the company,
Panadigm, stating my success
at the polls and appointment to a
position in Government as the
reason. I continued to lend support
due to my interest in this project.
I have never
charged nor received any
remuneration from Panadigm.
To my knowledge,
no G-pans have been sold locally or
internationally to this date.
I have
served on State boards, as an
Alderman at the San Fernando City
Corporation and Member of
Parliament. I have represented and
continue to represent this country
with pride and dignity as a
practitioner of the art form.
G-Pans at
Skiffle Bunch Pan Theatre
For my
entire life, I have been involved in
the steelband fraternity as a
player, tutor and administrator at
first, being guided and now guiding
young people on a daily basis. As a
Cultural Activist, I can assure you
that contributing to the development
of the steelband movement can only
be described as ‘a labour of love.’”
The
pan aficionado then opened the floor
to a barrage of questions from the
various media houses gathered.
Edited by When
Steel Talks
Images
supplied
by
Hollis Clifton