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“All of the things happening recently in the pan world, the national instrument status, the GI (Geographical Indication) certificate, pan month—all of these things hinge upon Trinidad being the birthplace of pan and it presupposes that we have the best quality instruments coming out of Trinidad.”
This is one of many insightful comments in response to last Sunday’s column about our current inadequacy of firmly established chroming facilities. That column stimulated detailed exchanges between many accomplished persons in the pan-making community, which confirmed several of the assertions made in that column.
Photo: Office of the Parliament 2024
I am grateful to those brothers and sisters of mine in pan who have contributed to my absorption of the many aspects of pan.
Sadly, the stated presupposition that the best quality instruments come out of Trinidad is gravely threatened.
We have left ourselves at a disadvantage in pan manufacturing, while others abroad have forged ahead on the backs of our inventors to the extent that we are not the clear leaders in pan manufacturing as we should be.
It is readily accepted that no matter how sweet or accomplished the music we play, the sustainability of pan depends on a regular supply of quality pans at a reasonable price. While the vainglorious boasting and political grandstanding of officialdom increases, there are other elephants in the room.
Even before being impeded by the inadequacy of chroming facilities, there are realities undermining the supply of quality pans.
Traditionally, after their commercial use for the shipping of raw materials, a limited supply of drums become available having been discarded. These used drums are available at a low price, frequently one tenth of the price of the custom-made drum, but availability is not under the control of the pan builder or pan tuner.
Unlike a whole drum that is custom made for use for construction into a pan, only the unopened end of the discarded drum can be used and extensive cleaning is required.
Among the used drums is a type known as “the poison drum”—that is a drum which has been used for shipping a poisonous or noxious substance. The pan building market accepts “poison drums” despite the toxicity of working with such drums, which have to be neutralised before construction of the pan can begin.
Photo: Best of Trinidad
This is illustrative of the challenges which pan builders or pan tuners face in the search for affordable drums.
For clarification: pan building and pan tuning are deliberately referred to separately because many tuners do not build the pan. The builder sinks the surface of the pan, drafts, grooves, shapes and cuts the pan before it is provided to the tuner.
However, there is a pressing need to further stimulate the training, development and availability of pan tuners. I raised my concern about this when Bertel Gittens, chairman of the World Steelpan Thrust invited me to speak on World Steelpan Day 2020.
Photo: Pan on the Net
I expressed then concern about the lack of a succession plan to build a pipeline of new generations of pan tuners to succeed the pioneering greats, who were then all of advanced age.
Things have improved somewhat. Pan tuners are now being trained and receive certificates, but my information is that significant field experience after certification is required to complete their training and development.
Meanwhile, the demand for experienced tuners exceeds the supply, a situation made more critical, according to one post, by “the outward flux of tuners happening since the early days”.
One very well organized panyard was reportedly looking for a tuner in time to prepare for last night’s finals of Pan Is More Beautiful because its regular tuners are abroad.
Readers will no doubt appreciate a full-fledged pan manufacturing industry with a consistent supply of drums and an adequate number of tuners would be labour-intensive and an avenue for employment opportunities.
Our governments make showy gestures and sweet-talk pan. Such conduct and the political seduction of Pan Trinbago will not sustain Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership in our own invention, including the Jour Ouvert morning Bomb competition.
Photo: Consulate-general
The Bomb has been neglected and is in urgent need of additional investment in order to sustain the presence of steelbands on the road during Carnival, our highest profile festival.
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Martin G Daly SC is a prominent attorney-at-law. He is a former Independent Senator and past president of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
He is chairman of the Pat Bishop Foundation and a steelpan music enthusiast.
