Point mayor: No Borough Day without pan

Point Fortin Mayor Clyde Paul says there will be no Borough Day celebrations without T&T’s national instrument, the steelpan. Speaking on Saturday night, Paul adamantly declared that steelpan will remain a permanent fixture of Borough Day celebrations, which officially kick off tomorrow night. Addressing the formal launch of Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations on Saturday evening at Victor Chin Kit Park in Point Fortin, Paul said there are some calling for steelpan to be removed from the annual celebrations.

However he said he will not allow that to happen. “When you have people calling for no more steelband, forget that. These (things) do not make sense. As long as I am here, I am standing with the steelband and as long as I am here the steelband will remain,” he declared. Paul said he expects that he will be criticised for his position, but he is ready for whatever is thrown at him.

 “I am not going to surrender to those who say no steelband. You have no steelband, you have no more rhythm. As a matter of fact you better get that message and get it loud,” Paul said. Saturday’s launch featured performances from San City Steel Orchestra, Fucsdat Steel Orchestra, La Brea Nightingales Steel Orchestra, Diatonics Pan Institute and Self-Help Marines. The audience was also entertained by Jah Roots—the lone pan-around-the-neck band.

Paul urged residents to be mindful of the people they invite into the borough for the celebrations. He said he does not want a repeat of last year’s violence that saw the murder of 31-year-old Arouca resident Dwayne Jackson, a father of one. Paul described the killing as an “imported murder” since the people involved in the incident were not from Point Fortin. “Save your integrity please. Save your innocence please. I am begging you all,” Paul said. He urged Point Fortin residents to keep the celebrations safe and crime-free.

“What we are having in Point Fortin in the last few months is imported violation of the law. Please people I am begging you all: let not what happened last year happen again. Things that  are being reported as happening in Point Fortin, they are not from here,” he said. The Mayor added that National Security Operations Centre will be supporting police in ensuring a safe celebration. 

Thousands are also expected to converge on the southern borough for the annual party-like atmosphere. It also expected that the recent opening of the Guapo beach facilities at Clifton Hill Beach, Point Fortin will be a prime option for partygoers this year. Tomorrow’s event is entitled “Tribute the Achievers” and will honour residents from Point Fortin at Southern Gardens at 7 pm.