Point Fortin mayor Clyde Paul has criticised Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Winston "Gypsy" Peters for the sparse funding given to this year's Borough Day celebrations. At the prize-giving function for the Pan-on-the-move competition at the Point Fortin Town Hall on Thursday evening, Paul said the total contribution from the minister for this year's celebration was $13,109.50. He described that amount as an insult since the overall cost of this year's Pan-on-the-move competition alone, with 19 conventional and seven single-pan bands participating, was $600,000. Overall winner Phase II Pan Groove collected a cash prize of $33,000, significantly less than what they would have received, Paul said. He said each conventional band was given an appearance fee of $15,000. Paul thanked Atlantic LNG for saving the pan competition which has become a main feature of the Borough celebrations.
Criticising Peters for the paltry sum, Paul said: "This appears to be the remnants of something. Maybe it could be the amount of money they did not spend in Phagwa, they give it to Point Fortin." Paul said upon receipt of the money, the council took an immediate decision to return it. "However, I have been taught never to give back money, so instead of giving it back, we have decided to give it to Jeunes Agape, because they are into culture and they need the money," he said. He told representatives from Pan Trinbago who attended the function to take a message to Peters. "Let him know that Panorama is not the only pan show in Trinidad and Tobago," he said. "There are other shows and the minister must, must contribute to those shows-Pan in the Country and Borough Day pan competition."
"Why is it we cannot invest tax payers' money in the borough? Tell Gypsy that is taxpayers' dollars distributing for other cultural events and pan deserve a whole lot more." Recalling the recent G-Pan controversy raised by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Paul asked: "The AG said the nation owns pan, so why are you not contributing to it?"