Pan Trinbago yesterday stood by its decision to allow 58 bands to perform at Panorama semi-finals Sunday.
The decision was reported to have caused conflict with the National Carnival Commission, which has taken control of aspects of Panorama including the collection of gate receipts and all revenues coming into Pan Trinbago.
Insisting there was nothing out of the ordinary in selecting 58 bands to perform in Panorama, Pan Trinbago's treasurer, Richard Forteau, said it was the steelband body's membership that made this decision.
A total of 30 small, 14 medium and 14 large steel orchestras are competing on Sunday. He said it was too late to change their decision about band participation at this time.
"Who's having Panorama? The NCC?" he asked.
He said the NCC did not have any conversation with Pan Trinbago over their decision to choose 58 bands and wanted to know who was spreading that information.
He said the membership's decision was backed by an Act of Parliament and a Cabinet minute giving them the authority to manage Panorama.
"I don't know if the NCC is licenced to run Panorama."
He said, in addition to collecting all revenue, the NCC is responsible for putting up infrastructure for the staging of the competition and the paying of prize money to winners.
Forteau said Pan Trinbago chose 58 bands to perform because of the number of bands that presented themselves for participation in the competition.
He said out of 15 large bands, they chose 14, out of 28 medium, they chose another 14 and out of 58 small bands, they chose 30.
He said this was around the same number that usually participate in Panorama.
Forteau said Panorama semi-finals will begin at 9 am Sunday and finish on time.
Efforts to reach NCC chairman, Kenny de Silva yesterday were not successful.