Pan Trinbago’s elections have been set for October 28.
This following a membership meeting at the Communication Workers’ Union Hall at Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, last evening.
The membership voted for the date in a tense setting after Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz moved to have elections on this date, with nomination day set for October 1.
However, the meeting descended into chaos after the membership called for Diaz to allow members of the executive to respond to certain allegations made by the Pan Trinbago president in recent months.
It appeared at first that this request was granted, but as secretary Richard Forteau attempted to approach the microphone a furore erupted and the meeting descended into chaos before it was abruptly ended.
Many members left the meeting at around 7 pm as a result.
Diaz is currently engaged in a High Court matter with the executive, stemming from his decision to call an extraordinary general meeting contrary to the organisation's constitution earlier this year.
Diaz, along with North Regional chairman Gerald Mendez Tobago Regional chair Marie Toby were taken before the court in April by members of the executive. The executive contends that Diaz failed to follow the constitution of the organisation by calling an extraordinary general meeting where the membership voted to dissolve the executive and install an interim committee. During that contentious meeting, a vote was taken to dissolve the executive and install an interim committee.
Speaking last evening’s meeting, Diaz told the T&T Guardian he had also planned to update the membership on the status of the outstanding money owed to pan players during the meeting.
Earlier before the meeting, however, Diaz had said he was hoping the payments to pan players will be rectified soon.
"I will bring the membership up to date, we have not received the money from the National Carnival Commission yet. But after speaking to the CEO today we expect the NCC awaiting allocation from the Ministry of Finance. As soon as they get those allocations, the pan players will be paid. That's what I was told today," Diaz said.