A reported statement at the recent pan conference read in part: "An imperative should be created where pan and pan players view T&T as the home of pan, where they seek accreditation and validity." I would like to add the word "worldwide" after created for it is for this very same reason, ie, where the home of pan is, that is stifling its further development.
For over 16 years I have proposed that this country put on all of its postage stamps a pan with crossed sticks, much in the same manner as the queen's head on UK stamps. A postage stamp is the sole item that in volume reaches more countries than any other of our products with the words "Trinidad and Tobago" on it. Somebody will get the message and it will be a minimal cost and free from bobol.
Second, I suggested that all athletes requiring Government funding should have on their tunics/ tracksuits/caps or whatever the same pan logo or no funding. This would establish the pan as the ultimate "logo" of T&T, much the same as the fern leaf for New Zealand, the wallaby for Australia, the springbok for SA, the rising sun for Japan etc. Again little room for bobol.
And once again I am suggesting that all pan competitions in T&T have the word "world," eg World Panorama Champs, World Pan Festival Champs. If other countries can have World Series with only their teams who is we.
Dallas Kidman
Via e-mail
