Tag Archives: steelpan

For Panorama semi-finals, two weeks ago, I had probably the best listening position I have ever had. Through the kind courtesy of panyard acquaintances, as well as through our bonding at my Carnival Days’ lime, I spent nine hours in row two of the Grandstand, right behind the judges with …

My father considered music of any kind to be unpleasant noise. In his later years, when he became a bible-toting Witness, he listened to some form of gospel. But as children, we were not allowed access for a long time. He was rough about it. I came to really hear …

As our Trinidad and Tobago economy has declined consequent upon the steep decline in our foreign exchange earnings, our economists have included tourism and creative arts in their list of potential sources of new foreign exchange earnings. The currently fashionable phrase for economic activity in the creative sector is “the …

“[…] It is time that pan (read Pan Trinbago, or PTB) involves itself in some long-term policies, strategies and actions that have the long-term goals of sustainability of the pan and benefits to the thousands of panmen who continue to play for free, simply for their unenviable love of pan. …

Last week I dealt with this Government’s commendable moves to deal with the problems arising out of the use of amplified sound at Carnival fetes and similar events outside the Carnival season. The explosive sounds of fireworks are also a major problem for citizens. The recent amendment of the Summary …

Last week, in light of the current United States naval presence in Caribbean waters, I posed a question about sovereignty, to which I return below. However, I must begin this week noting that the National Gas Company (NGC), a premier state enterprise, has pelted both the Minister of Education, Dr …

My last topic was the cancellation of the Independence Day military parade, which was yet another issue over which there was polarisation, partly driven by the partisan political zealots. Currently, some of the reactions to the United States’ naval presence in Caribbean waters are intended superficially to spin a potentially …

I expect that my disappointment at the cancellation of today’s Independence Day military parade, in which the Defence Force is joined by other agencies of our protective services, will be mitigated by my attendance at Saturday night’s Brooklyn Panorama. Today, instead of exchanging Independence greetings on Tragarete Road, in the …

World Steelpan Day falls in August, which was a month designated as Steelpan Month in Trinidad and Tobago some time before the United Nations proclamation of that special day in 2023. Do these August activities, including the annual event at Times Square—as enjoyable as they are—in reality do anything for …

Our changes of government frequently receive a verdict of “no change only exchange”. The current apparent dead end in the search for a gas supply to revive certain of our petrochemical industries is illustrative of the peril of governments having no appetite for fundamental reform. Added to all the unimaginative …

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 …