Pan Trinbago celebrates Steelband Month: Fr Harvey calls for pan at every function

Roman Catholic priest Fr Clyde Harvey yesterday expressed hope that pan music would once again be a source of quality entertainment at every event across T&T. Harvey made the remark in a sermon at a service held at the St Joseph’s Convent Chapel, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, to mark Pan Trinbago’s observance of Steelband Month, celebrated in August this year.

Harvey said during his travels, particularly in the United Kingdom, he saw seven-piece steelbands travelling across the country performing at different venues, spreading the gospel of the T&T instrument. “This is one of the ways in which we can spread the pan here in T&T. Put pans for a band that size in a pick-up truck and going around spreading the gospel of the pan,” he said to a congregation that included Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz and other members of his executive.

Harvey said what was special to him about Sunday’s service was that the single tenor pan placed at the foot of the altar was provided by St Joseph’s Convent. He recalled a time when it was nothing short of criminal for a student of the school to befriend a panman, much less play the national musical instrument. But today, he said, he took comfort that over time things had changed for the better.

At the service, representatives from several steelbands presented their flags to be blessed, while the Laventille-based Uni-Stars provided quality entertainment. Sunday’s mass followed Friday’s Steelpan Awards Ceremony held at the Festival Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

Today, which has been dubbed Pioneers’ Day, there will be an evening of reflection and introspection at the Charlotte Street panyard of BP Renegades, to be followed by a youth rally on Saturday, at the Paddock at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.