Tag Archives: steelpan

Stuart Young is on the eve of becoming prime minister. This will be the result of a process designed to have him appointed under section 76 (1) (a) of the Constitution and behind which the Members of the House of Representatives of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) appear to …

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 …

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley (the PM) has evaded having his choice of Minister Stuart Young as successor to the leadership of the party and the country (or indeed any other person desiring such leadership) sent to a vote at a convention of the membership of the People’s National Movement …

It can hardly be disputed that good governance invariably requires the making of policies and their effective implementation. As Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley proceeds toward the still unclear date of his departure from office and the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government completes two consecutive five year terms in office …

“They say mih country so stressful, so tense/ With race hate, young jail bait, too much violence. Girl, pack up and go, this sweet Trinbago/ I tell dem no way (no way)/ How de people small-minded, macocious and loud/ Of bobol and scandal they boastful and proud/ Yet somehow I …

I have taken time to evaluate my doubts about the announcement made on 9 August concerning Geographical Indication certification for pan. A number of fanciful and overstated claims were made about the Geographical Indication (GI) certificate which was flourished on stage in the hands of the Minister of Tourism and …

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 …

“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 …

“[…] 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 …

“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 …

“[…] It is my view therefore that a decision to alter the Coat of Arms should not have been made by the political directorate at its party convention taking into account the implications for such a change, which is not the responsibility of any political party, but a responsibility of …

Pan Trinbago has been basking in a new dawn of support for pan in its birthplace. But for some of us there are still clouds hovering over the financing and sustainability of the steelpan, our national instrument. Political grandstanding will not dissipate those clouds. Primarily, we left a significant part …