Pan People Mobilize for Action as Global Steelpan Community Watches Trinidad & Tobago Panorama Conflict

WST Editorial

In the land of pan - Trinidad & Tobago - their steelpan governing body Pan Trinbago recently received a crushing blow when the Trinidad & Tobago Government announced disproportionate increases to the annual prize monies allocated to the key constituents of their annual Carnival celebrations.  From the perspective of the WST (When Steel Talks) global steelpan music community, the current administration of Trinidad & Tobago delivered the message in no uncertain terms:  that the Panorama was not on equal footing with the other elements of Trinidad & Tobago Carnival/cultural activities: Soca, Chutney and Calypso.  From a global perspective this is indeed incredulous behavior.  

As to why Pan Trinbago didn't see fit to question the inequity in the government’s declaration immediately when it was initially announced, that is curious. Nevertheless, Pan Trinbago has since outright rejected this arrangement.

Any appearance or move to devalue the importance of any aspect of the steelpan music culture, artform or experience is unacceptable - particularly something as of great magnitude as Panorama.

Read the responses from the global steelpan music community.