Current reality is significantly at odds with the much touted joy and unity of Carnival. It is front and centre of its own stage, which grimly rivals the dazzling Carnival stages. Such reality can no longer be easily pushed aside and become invisible during the Carnival season. The murderous challenges …
Read More »Daly Bread: Being the solution we seek—time for T&T to stand up
As I close off three weeks of analysis of pan manufacturing, I will refer to the inspiration to be taken from the riveting speech of former First Lady Michelle Obama at the recently concluded Democratic Convention in Chicago. First, however, I am happy to acknowledge and that the quotation with …
Read More »Daly Bread: Reclaiming pan manufacturing; and Pan Trinbago’s controversial headquarters
“All those initiatives are undermined by the fact that in 2024, the Steelpan Manufacturing sector does not have a dedicated and secured source and supply of high quality drums. “To ensure a consistent supply of raw materials the industry requires in place a drum-producing facility, which will produce drums based …
Read More »Dear Editor: Pan Trinbago will betray fraternity by abdicating Trincity land
“[…] Amazingly, Pan Trinbago has opted to forgo any possibility of sustainability by giving up this potential by exchanging 13 acres of land in Trincity/Orange Grove for a half-acre and an old building in Port of Spain. “In Trincity/ Orange Grove, the potential is as unlimited as the land space …
Read More »Daly Bread: The poisoned drum—pan industry’s issues go beyond chroming
“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 …
Read More »Daly Bread: Supernovas lob Grenade for Pan, despite difficulties
Pan music has always said to me “let me love you” and I have responded “I will love you for a thousand years”. Last Sunday, in the Savannah, the melodic single pan bands performing in Pan Down Memory Lane category preceded Pan in the 21st Century and lyrics like those …
Read More »Daly Bread: Are we seeing a Carnival evolution, or a free-for-all?
The hyped-up Carnival 2023 has concluded, but the lack of changes in the traditional infrastructure and other provisions continue visibly to hurt the annual festival. Immediately after Carnival 2020, the last one preceding the forced cancellation for two years because of Covid-19, I asserted that Carnival post-mortems are usually futile …
Read More »Daly Bread: The nurturing place; T&T will benefit from developing youth panyards
Last Sunday’s Junior Panorama was a scintillating competition. The crowds were so large that, as the Primary Schools category was completed, their supporters were politely asked to leave and make space for the next category, Secondary Schools. The quality of the musical performances of the participants in each of the …
Read More »Dear Editor: By what logic is Dr Rowley’s solution to the Tobago impasse ‘autocratic’?
“[…] Both the PNM and the PDP sought to resolve this issue by seeking to reach some sort of compromise solution/consensus in order to establish a workable bi-partisan administration. All such efforts failed miserably. “Good governance demanded that the issue be resolved as quickly as possible. What better way to …
Read More »Demming: Trying to put pandemic in pan’s way is putting democracy at risk
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) is now run by a non-elected normalisation committee appointed by the sport’s world umbrella body, The Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa). Led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, our Parliament acted to override the collective will of Tobagonians when their election results …
Read More »Daly Bread: Tied up in Tobago; PNM and PDP should try one more time with 12 seats
On the date corresponding to today in last year’s Carnival calendar, I was tied up in Tobago with pan business, enjoying the morning after our attendance at the medium band 2020 Panorama finals which was held in Tobago. Now all of Tobago is tied up. There is the deadlock in …
Read More »Daly Bread: ‘The silence of the panyards’; needing Boy Boy to rescue our ‘desolate Carnival Land’
No pelau is cooking for a semi-final Panorama Sunday, in which we should be revelling today. No coolers and food baskets readied for the Savannah. The magic drums are silent. My soul’s feeling like it get planasse! The silence in the panyards sent me back to a brilliant Phase …
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