No Season for Pan
PANORAMA 2020 was launched on Sunday evening at HADCO Phase II Pan Groove Pan Theatre, Damien Street, Woodbrook, with the theme Celebrate the Pan.
In outlining plans for the competition Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore said the national instrument would no longer have to "fight for a space in any short Carnival season with over 200 events."
Ramsey-Moore said, “As we enter a new decade major changes have been made to our festivities. We have listened to our members and their concerns and it is important that we treat with all of them.
“We have found a way to give greater prominence and recognition to each category particularity single pan and small conventional bands. No longer will those two categories be fighting for recognition. Both media and patrons have to divide their resources and prioritise events to attend.”
She said Pan Trinbago has been listening to soca artiste/calypsonians and has been paying attention to what is called the season of Carnival.
She then declared, “Pan Trinbago has decided there must be no season for pan and as such we start our season of Carnival in November. If TT is the land of Carnival and pan then our pan culture will be spread throughout the year."
Explaining the rational for moving the single pan finals to next month, Ramsey-Moore pointed out that this year's the single pan finals was held on the same day as the Calypso Monarch final at Skinner Park, San Fernando.
"This will no longer be the case. Single pan finals will be in November,” she said.
On November 23, single pan champion San Juan East Side Symphony will defend its title at a venue to be announced. The small conventional bands finals will remain in San Fernando on January 11.
By Gary Cardinez
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
