I remember how outraged I was a couple years ago, sitting in the stands for Panorama semis, and hearing the music from the fete on the Greens being played loudly while the medium bands were assembling on stage, and even when they started playing!The people in the fete had no interest whatsoever in what was happening on stage.Sorry, Pan Trinbago, having those fetes at the same time as the semis did absolutely nothing to make the patrons any more interested in pan.
As a matter of fact, it made them even more dismissive of this aspect of our rich heritage.Now Pan Trinbago wants to introduce even more disrespect by introducing a pool party! Wet and wild, with absolutely no interest in what the rest of us have come out to experience. An annoying distraction to serious pan lovers, and the steel bands, in which most of the players are young people!
If Pan Trinbago wants to woo the fete lovers, may I respectfully suggest that they have these pool parties year-round. Yes, call them Pan Splash. Find an appropriate venue and get the best steelbands to provide music while the skimpily-dressed frolic in the pool.Despers one weekend All Stars the next week etc. It may just be a good idea. No DJ music, just the steelband and maybe, just maybe, a few of the young people may be converted to the steelband.
But please, not at the semis at Carnival time. That is neither the time nor the place for it!
E Smith,
via e-mail