Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz was forced to abort a two-and-a half hour meeting with panmen on Wednesday night as they insisted "no money, no Panorama."
The extra-ordinary meeting, which Diaz later described as unsuccessful, was intended to discuss the issue of the non-payment of money owed to panmen for performances during Carnival 2016 and allocations for 2017.
In an interview with reporters outside City Hall, Diaz said: "We had to close off the meeting because that is what the panmen say and I have to follow what they say."
The media was not allowed into the venue but during the meeting loud voices were heard demanding that panmen be treated with more respect by the executive of the organisation and the Government.
Ace pan arranger Len "Boogsie" Sharpe told reporters the Pan Trinbago executive should resign immediately and an interim body be established to run the 2017 Panorama competition if there was to be one. He also said the event should be boycotted under the existing circumstances.
"No Panorama! No Panorama, No Panorama," angry attendees shouted as Diaz tried to speak with reporters following the meeting. Diaz could not be heard, for the first few minutes of the interview.
He later said he could not guarantee the staging of any Panorama competition next year.
"They are very serious with what they are saying," Diaz said.
He said Community Development Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly was not prepared to meet with Pan Trinbago to discuss the allocation of money for the players.
"She don't want to talk to us, she doesn't want to talk," he said. The minister could not be reached for comment yesterday.
He said allocations are not given to his organisation but the National Carnival Commission (NCC).
Diaz said Pan Trinbago was seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to discuss the matter. He later said he had called an emergency executive meeting last night to discuss the issue.
Several panmen walked out of the meeting, expressing their displeasure over the situation and even called for Diaz's resignation as leader of the steelband body.
Pan player Dane Gulston said panmen were owed money and despite a promise to have some of the outstanding money paid, there was no guarantee of Panorama next year. He said the Pan Trinbago executive must "shape up or ship out."
Manager of Desperadoes, Panorama champions for 2016, Curtis Edwards said his band was in support of the proposed Panorama boycott if the money issue was not settled. "Time for talk done. It is strictly no Panorama," he said.