From Morvant to Port-of-Spain is considered short distance, but it is far by foot. I found this out last Saturday by participating in Pan Trinbago's March for Peace 2013, from Morvant Junction to the steelband organisation's headquarters on Park Street, opposite Victoria Square, Port-of-Spain.
I had a lot of time to think during the gruelling trek as I passed through my old hometown of Laventille. I mused on whether residents of crime-ridden communities really care about crime, or how their neighbourhoods are being decimated by crime?
At most, for the entire walk the number of marchers never rose to more than 50, and many of those were members of the Defence Force and steelbands. In fact, I overheard one marcher quip: "Like it have more cars in the motorcade than marchers?" A worker at the Red House construction site on Abercromby Street, probably hearing the steelband playing a spiritual item, asked: "That is a church march?"
If one was to assume by printed jerseys worn, steelbands supporting the march included Defence Force, Desperadoes, Renegades, Blue Diamonds, Belmont 5th Dimension, World Wide, Panatics, Sforzata and Sound Specialists. Music along the route was provided by Sapophonics of Carenage, while Uni Stars of Laventille performed at the march's end in Victoria Square.
In spite of the lure of sweet pan music, all along the Eastern Main Road, residents remained indoors, with very few even venturing into their galleries or yards.
Perhaps the event wasn't well advertised or marketed so the people to whom anti-crime messages were being transmitted by Pan Trinbago secretary Richard Forteau (Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille) and PRO Trevor Reid (Curepe Sforzata) may not have even known of the event? But, the initiative and cause was a noble and commendable one, in stark contrast to days of yore when panmen fought each other, and the police was the enemy.
As we walked along the Eastern Main Road divide between Beetham Estate and John John, two women joined us from John John. Nowhere to be seen were politicians, councillors, corporate citizens or residents from the areas. In fact, the only official I saw in the march was Port-of-Spain Deputy Mayor Keron Valentine, who walked the entire distance.
Addressing the few stoic marchers at the end of the procession, Forteau said: "I am not worried by numbers (of marchers). God has heard our cry and has answered us."
Pan Trinbago North Region chairman Gerald Mendez also had his say, expressing thanks to all participants. In a short address he stated that bands of the Northern Region were under siege by the ravages of crime, citing Desperadoes, Tokyo and Sun Valley among steelbands which all have problems practising at home.
"We have to make a stand," said Mendez, as he urged citizens to "join a steelband in the community." He added: "When you join a steelband you deny the crime factory from recruiting raw material for more crime." Mendez made a spirited plea to corporate citizens of crime ridden communities to support pan.
In the absence of Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz, vice president Bryon Serrette, officially closing the march, said: "Don't join a gang, join a steelband. Play music and avoid stress. The answer to crime is the steelband."
Serrette singled out Sgt Tobbit and members of the Defence Force steelband for participating in the march, along with uniformed police officers.
Non-stop action
From today until Independence Day, August 31, there is a flurry of arts and entertainment activity nationwide. Tonight, from 8 o'clock, bpTT Renegades pan theatre, on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, is expected to pulsate with sweet music as the band hosts Pan Night. At the same time, at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, Junior Sammy Group of Companies Skiffle is holding its concert.
Tomorrow night sees the Cancer Society of T&T Benefit Concert at 6.15 pm, at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain, with headline act Blake.
At 5 pm, aSk Promotions will hold Fanmania featuring 12 live bands, at Club Zen, Keate Street, Port-of-Spain. Skiffle is also repeating its concert tomorrow night at Queen's Hall, while the Pan Trinbago North Region will have its Back in Times Fete, at Carib Woodbrook Playboyz panyard, Tragarete Road, Newtown.
Yet another new mas band, Flirt, is unveiling its C2K14 presentation–La Isla de Calor–on Sunday at 6 pm at The Outside Woman Restaurant, at 4 Phillip Street, Port-of-Spain. Amongst the event's headline acts are Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Blaxx and Cassi.
Sunday's action, though, begins at 9.45 am in Laventille when the Dan Kelly Improvement Committee stages its Sports and Family Day, on Picton Road. There's more sport and entertainment activity on Sunday, from 2.30 pm, with the opening of the Eddie Hart Football League, in Tacarigua. During the day and evening there will be live performances by Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars, Junior Sammy Group of Companies Skiffle, T&T Police Band, T&T Prisons Band and much more.
Next week is also chockfull with great stuff, beginning with The Lydians premiering The Jubilee Concerts–in memory of Pat Bishop, at the Little Carib Theatre, Woodbrook.
That same evening, at 8 pm, CAL Invaders Steel Orchestra stages Versatility...The Concert, at Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa), Port-of-Spain. This mega production will feature SuperBlue, Rembunction, Aaron Duncan, H2O Phlo, Richard Pierre, Karen Eccles and much more.
Rounding off next Thursday night's events is the COPOS Credit Union's Flabej Now in Concert, feat Flabej Ensemble, at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp), Woodbrook.
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