Salah A. Wilson
Salah’s Steelpan Academy --- Salah’s Steelpan Academy
313 Blue Haven, D.D.O. --- Lp 40 St. John Road
Quebec, H9G2N6 Canada --- St. Augustine, Trinidad
sal_wils@hotmail.com --- sal_wils @hotmail.com
www.steelpanplus.com
---
(868) 645-3597
(514) 675-1425
December 17th 2010
A
Ministry Exclusively for the Steelpan in Trinidad & Tobago
This proposal and discussion is not a response to
any current dispute concerning the Steelpan movement and the
Cultural Ministry of Trinidad and Tobago. This topic has been
raised before, by me and others as well. It is an attempt to
outline a full slate of reasons and logical proof of why an
exclusive Ministry for the Steelpan is essential and needed. It is
also an attempt to offer suggestions as to how to bring about this
important Ministry. The skeptics will have their say, as well as
the opposition, but we expect those of you who will support this
notion to equally come out and have your say. The end point must
not be just talk or a good document; rather it should be the basis
of a blueprint to establish a movement for this worthy cause.
Question
1. - What is it that constitutes a need for any Ministry in
Trinidad & Tobago?
Pan on the Flag
by Desmond Chase
Some suggestions (1) This Ministry must be able to
offer something meaningful to the country, to the population , to
the world; (2) This Ministry must be able to provide a service to
the country, to the population , to the world; (3) This Ministry
should have the ability to generate finance and contribute to the
economic development of the country; (4) This Ministry should have
a positive impact on the social status of the population of the
country; (5) This Ministry should be able to attract foreign
investments and tourism; (6)
This Ministry should be able
to positively affect the youths of the country; (7) This Ministry
should be able to create jobs and spin off related industries.
The above is only some suggestions but we can weigh
the Steelpan against them as a beginning point of reference. But
first let us answer another question which is this. We already have
a Ministry of Culture and Steelpan falls under Culture so why is a
Ministry for the Steelpan needed. Well by a process of elimination,
let us weigh the impact of the other cultures of Trinidad & Tobago
to the above 7 points of reference. Include (Calypso, Soca,
Chutney, Mas, Parang, Tassa, Better village,….etc). However we will
leave this job to the proponents of these other art forms of
culture. Our business is the Pan so let us get our weighing
instruments ready.
(1) This Ministry must be able to offer something meaningful to the country, to the population, to the world;
Trinidad & Tobago undisputable is the country which invented this
remarkable musical instrument called the Steelpan, It is complete
with an entire family of musical instruments from the Bass to the
Soprano comparable to the family of String instruments as well as
the Wind instruments. This is the only complete family of
instruments to be invented in the last century. This is a gift by
us, to our own country, our own population and the entire world. So
we have indeed offered something meaningful to the country, to the
population, to the world.
(2) This Ministry must be able to
provide a service to the country, to the population, to the world;
The Steelpan at Panorama time engages the entire
country of Trinidad & Tobago for that period of time. All of the
Pan yards are filled in every part of the country in preparation
for the National Panorama competitions as well as local Steelpan
competitions. We are talking about tens of thousands of people who
are actively involve including parents who take their children to
the Pan yards, Pan tuners and makers, Pan Stands and Pan Racks
builders, Pan Sticks manufacturers, Musical Arrangers and
Assistants, Calypsonians and music score writers, the
Transportation industry is very active, the Food industry is very
active, business is generated as money is spent to accommodate
these needs. Active pan players and visitors from around the world
come to Trinidad & Tobago to be a part of this. Foreign currency is
part of the product of this service provided. The question is answered as it provides a service to the country,
to the population, to the world. If there was a Ministry for the
Steelpan, the Ministry would be able to repeat this phenomenon at
other times of the year and generate more services.
(3) This Ministry should have the ability to generate finance and contribute to the economic development of the country.
The global impact of the Steelpan today renders it as a billion
dollar industry. The Steelpan is no longer exclusively made in
Trinidad & Tobago. From Europe to Asia to North America and to the
Caribbean, Steelpans are being manufactured as we speak. With this
type of international manufacture and production the cost of a
Steelpan instrument varies from country to country. In some parts
of the USA for instance an alto pan (double second) can cost
$7,500.00US. If we were to use this as a reference point we will
find the math to be very interesting but first let us ask another
question, will this price increase or decrease in the next few
years? This same alto pan (double second) in Trinidad can cost
$5,000.00-$6,000.00TT…a remarkable difference but again in the next
few years will the price increase or decrease? This economic
development of the Steelpan industry in Trinidad & Tobago is one of
the main reasons why a Ministry for the Steelpan is needed. In
order to compete with the growing international global market, well
thought out industrialized planning should be put into effect which
will include the scientific technology of the type of Steel drums
that has to be manufactured to get the best quality Steelpans. In
other words we should be making quality controlled Steel Drums for
the Steelpans. Quality Chrome factories specifically designed to
chrome all the Pans. Factories for the manufacture of all types of
Pan Stands and Pan Racks which could all be easily dismantled for
export. Steelpan Cases and Steelpan Sticks, Steelpan Text books are
also a part of the economic operation. If this industry were to
become a reality Trinidad would easily overtake the rest of the
world and seize the biggest part of the international market
because the world still loves authenticity especially when it comes
to musical instruments and Trinidad could produce competitive
prices to ensure it stays on top of the markets. So again the
question is answered that this Ministry would have the ability to
generate finance and contribute to the economic development of the
country.
(4) This Ministry should have a positive impact on
the social status of the population of the country;
A Ministry for the Steelpan would give the tens of
thousands of people who are actively involved a positive outlook as
new developments and opportunities will be created. We have
presented a proposal for a National Musical Literacy Program for
the Pan Yards of Trinidad & Tobago. This proposal will ensure that
everyone becomes musically literate within a period of time as well
as create employment for many Steelpan teachers, a situation where
everyone benefits because we all know that education changes
everyone’s perspective on life in general. Parents will also be
more encouraged to send their children to the Pan Yards and this
will guide the youths to something positive rather than a life that
could lead to criminal activities. This again responds to the
question that this Ministry would have a positive impact on the
social status of the population of the country.
(5) This Ministry should be able to attract foreign
investments and tourism;
In many parts of the world today many cities have
emulated our Trinidad & Tobago style Panorama competition. It is a
by-product from Trinidad that is growing and spreading to many
cities. This results in the population at large having a strong
desire to go to the country of origin where this type of Steelpan
competition all began. With our own Ministry for the Pan, there
will be more activism in the promotion and marketing of this
Steelpan phenomenon thereby attracting more foreign investments
particularly in the mass media productions as well as tourism in
general. In all of the high schools, colleges and universities all
over the world there are two principal types of musical instruments
being used. They are Ensembles of String instruments and Ensembles
of Wind Instruments. We have started a project of pushing these
institutions of learning that Ensembles of Steelpan instruments are
an equivalent alternative to these other forms of musical
instruments. Let us imagine that in every institution all over the
world there is an equivalent Steelpan Ensemble comparable to
Strings and Wind ensembles. This would generate billions of dollars
to provide adequate instruments for all of these institutions. This
would also brighten and secure the future of the Steelpan as it
would be in the hands of the youths in these institutions of
learning. Again the question is answered that this Ministry would
be able to attract foreign investments and tourism.
(6) This Ministry should be able to positively
affect the youths of the country;
Steelpan programs are already in the curriculum of
the public schools of Trinidad & Tobago, however a proper review of
these programs should be undertaken to ensure that they are
effective and producing the desired results. Likewise as mentioned
before a simultaneous National Musical Literacy program for the Pan
Yards should also be placed into effective operation. The Pan Yards
should be transformed into Steelpan Academies eventually offering a
level of education between High School and University. Therefore
when one graduates from the High School and they go to the Pan
Yards (Steelpan Academies) they would actually be preparing
themselves for University. This is a task only a Ministry for the
Pan can accomplish and this would answer the question that this
Ministry would be able to positively affect the youths of the
country.
(7) This Ministry should be able to create jobs and
spin off related industries.
If all of the above were to be implemented, jobs
would naturally be created. In the sector of manufacture,
apprenticeship programs would be produced resulting in a new
generation of Pan Tuners and Pan Makers. Likewise in the sector of
manufacture of Pan Stands, Pan Racks, Pan Cases and Pan Sticks,
employment will be created. The chrome factories would also provide
employment. Teachers for the public schools and more teachers for
the Literacy program for the Pan Yards (Steelpan Academies).
More Steelpan events would be created so as to
provide outlets for the local as well as international
participants. In so doing this Ministry would be able to create
jobs and spin off related industries.
Question
2. – What is the strategy for implementing this proposal?
My suggestions are the following. (1) We will need
to establish an independent body of Pan Enthusiasts who believes in
this project and wants to see that it becomes a reality. We must
not allow ourselves to be stuck at this point, we must be open to
be inclusive to have representation from established Steelpan
organizations (Pan Trinbago in Trinidad) other worldwide
organizations are also welcomed. We need to leave all egos and
personal agendas outside of this body. (2) Awareness; we need to
bring about an awareness to all the Pan Enthusiasts in Trinidad &
Tobago, the Caribbean and the rest of the world. The awareness of
this project has to be then brought to the entire population of
Trinidad & Tobago. This is the age of information so massive media
production is not difficult, newspaper, radio, television, internet
access of Facebook, Twitter, Steelpan media like ‘When Steel Talks’
& ‘Pan Podium’ to name a few. (3) We need to line up with lawyers
who are willing to assist in this worthy cause. This is essential
in tweaking the strategy of the proposal. After we have achieved
these basic requirements then it would be the time for dialogue
with the government of Trinidad & Tobago. We will need to dialogue
directly with the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago.
In addition I wish to acknowledge that I am a
Steelpan activist who has been involved with the Steelpan business
for over 45 years. There are no personal financial benefits from
this project, there are no personal social status benefits from
this project. I am not the boss of this project rather I am just an
individual who believes that the time has come for the Steelpan in
Trinidad & Tobago to have its own Ministry. If you wish to join me
in the belief that this is possible please do. I do not have all
the answers, your input is welcomed. In this age of information we
do not have to be in the same physical location to dialogue so we
have the age of technology at our disposal, let us use it for the
common good of this project. I leave you with one dream …imagine we
have an exclusive ‘Ministry for the Steelpan in Trinidad & Tobago’.
Submitted by
Salah A. Wilson
BFA music, Author, Steelpan Activist.
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