Salah A. Wilson Salah’s Steelpan Academy 313 Blue Haven, D.D.O. Quebec, H9G2N6 Canada (514) 675-7307 8 Passy Crescent # 310. Toronto, Ontario, M3J3K9 Canada (647) 832-4820 Lp 40 St. John Rd, St. Augustine Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (868) 645-3597 sal_wils @hotmail / salah@steelpanplus December 17th 2010 / Revised May 23rd, 2014 A Ministry Exclusively for the Steelpan in Trinidad & Tobago This proposal and discussion is not a response to any current dispute concerning the steelpan movement and the present Cultural Ministry of Trinidad and Tobago. This topic has been raised before, by me and others as well. It is an attempt to outline a full slate of reasons and logical proof of why an exclusive ministry for the steelpan is essential and needed. It is also an attempt to offer suggestions as to how to bring about this important ministry. The skeptics will have their say, as well as the opposition, but we expect those of you who will support this notion to equally come out and have your say. The end point must not be just talk or a good document; rather it should be the basis of a planned attempt to establish a movement for this worthy cause. My position is absolutely clear. I do believe that a Ministry of Pan is needed, necessary and totally possible. It will be good not just for Trinidad and Tobago but also great for the entire global pan community. The pan has evolved from being just a cultural phenomenon of Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the Caribbean to an accepted musical instrument cherished around the world. But to many of us Trinidadians it embodies the essence of us as a people, a movement, a struggle, a defining part of who we are and our contribution to humanity. In my preliminary research, I have put together the following basic questions as only a starting point of reference. With more research and input from others, I am quite sure that there will be more questions and answers, but this is merely a reference point to begin this journey of a due dialogue on the subject. We can be assertive that from this dialogue, the pan people will actually besetting the agenda, way ahead of the politicians. The politicians will have to follow where this dialogue leads us. Eventually one side (the government or opposition) will jump on the pan wagon. Question 1. - What is it that constitutes a need for any ministry in Trinidad & Tobago? Some suggestions (1) This ministry must be able to offer something meaningful to the country, tothe population , to the world; (2) This ministry must be able to provide a service to the country, to the population , to the world; (3) This ministry should have the ability to generate finance and contribute to the economic development of the country; (4) This ministry should have a positive impact on the social status of the population of the country; (5) This ministry should be able to attract foreign investments and tourism; (6) This ministry should be able to positively affect the youths of the country; (7) This ministry should be able to create jobs and spin off related industries. The above is only some suggestions but we can weigh the steelpan against them as a beginning point of reference. But first let us answer another question which is this. We already have a Ministry of Culture and the steelpan falls under Culture so why is a ministry for the steelpan needed. We can begin by stating that at one time there was a Ministry of Sports and Culture and with evolution and growth we now have a Ministry of Sports and a separate Ministry of Culture. Secondly, by a process of elimination, let us weigh the impact of the other cultures of Trinidad & Tobago to the above 7 points of reference. Include (Calypso, Soca, Chutney, Mas, Parang, Tassa, Better village,….etc). However we will leave this job to the proponents of these other art forms of culture. Our business is the pan so let us get our weighing instruments ready. (1) This ministry must be able to offer something meaningful to the country, to the population, to the world. Trinidad & Tobago undisputable is the country which invented this remarkable musical instrument called the steelpan, It is complete with an entire family of musical instruments from the bass to the soprano comparable to the family of string instruments as well as the wind instruments. to be invented in the last century. Many heads of State that visit Trinidad & Tobago receive a gift of a steelpan from our government including the president and vice president of the USA, the prime minister of Australia, the president of China, the prime minister of Canada, even the pope received a pan. The steelpan is present in many countries including Canada, U.SA, England, many other European countries, Japan, China, Brazil, Nigeria and other African countries and the Caribbean islands. Steelpan programs continue to grow in the elementary and high schools, colleges and universities of many of these countries. This is a gift by us, to our own country, our own population and the entire world. So we have indeed offered something meaningful to the country, to the population, to the world. (2) This ministry must be able to provide a service to the country, to the population, to the world. The steelpan at panorama time engages the entire country of Trinidad & Tobago for that period of time. All of the pan yards are filled in every part of the country in preparation for the National Panorama competitions as well as local steelpan competitions. We are talking about tens of thousands of people who are actively involve including parents who take their children to the pan yards, pan tuners and makers, pan stands and pan racks builders, pan sticks manufacturers, musical arrangers and assistants, Calypsonians and music score writers, the transportation industry is very active, the food industry is very active, business is generated as money is spent to accommodate these needs. Active pan players and visitors from around the world come to Trinidad & Tobago to be a part of this. Foreign currency is part of the product of this service provided. This panorama competition is emulated in many parts of the world including the Caribbean islands, many cities of USA and Canada, Europe, Nigeria, Japan and Australia. The question is answered as it provides a service to the country, to the population, to the world. If there was a ministry for the steelpan, the ministry would be able to repeat this phenomenon at other times of the year and generate more services. (3) This ministry should have the ability to generate finance and contribute to the economic development of the country. The global impact of the steelpan today renders it as a billion dollar industry. The steelpan is no longer exclusively made in Trinidad & Tobago. From Europe to Asia to North America and to the Caribbean, steelpans are being manufactured as we speak. With this type ofinternational manufacture and production the cost of a steelpan instrument varies from country to country. In some parts of the USA for instance an alto pan (double second) can cost $7,900.00US. ( about $50.000.00TT) If we were to use this as a reference point we will find the math to be very interesting but first let us ask another question, will this price increase or decrease in the next few years? This same alto pan (double second) in Trinidad can cost $5,000.00 $6,000.00TT…a remarkable difference but again in the next few years will the price increase or decrease? This economic development of the steelpan industry in Trinidad & Tobago is one of the main reasons why a Ministry for the Steelpan is needed. In order to compete with the growing international global market, a well thought out industrialized planning should be put into effect which will include the scientific technology of the type of steel drums that has to be manufactured to get the best quality steelpans. In other words we should be making quality controlled steel drums for the steelpans. Quality chrome factories specifically designed to chrome all the pans, factories for the manufacture of all types of pan stands and pan racks which could all be easily dismantled for export. Steelpan cases and steelpan sticks, steelpan text books are also a part of the economic operation. If this industry were to become a reality Trinidad would easily overtake the rest of the world and seize the biggest part of the international market because the world still loves authenticity especially when it comes to musical instruments and Trinidad could produce competitive prices to ensure it stays on top of the markets. So again the question is answered that this ministry would have the ability to generate finance and contribute to the economic development of the country. (4) This ministry should have a positive impact on the social status of the population of the country. A ministry for the steelpan would give the tens of thousands of people who are actively involved a positive outlook as new developments and opportunities will be created. We have presented a proposal for a National Musical Literacy Program for the Pan Yards of Trinidad & Tobago. This proposal will ensure that the pan yards are utilized throughout the entire year and not just the seasonal panorama time. It also ensures that everyone becomes musically literate within a period of time as well as creating employment for many steelpan teachers, a situation where everyone benefits because we all know that education changes everyone’s perspective on life in general. Parents will also be more encouraged to send their children to the pan yards and this will guide the youths to something positive rather than a life that could lead to criminal activities. This again responds to the question that this ministry would have a positive impact on the social status of the population of the country. (5) This ministry should be able to attract foreign investments and tourism. In many parts of the world today many cities have emulated our Trinidad & Tobago style panorama competition. It is a by-product from Trinidad that is growing and spreading to many cities. This results large having a strong desire to go to the country of origin where this type of steelpan competition all began. With our own Pan Ministry, there will be more activism in the promotion and marketing of this steelpan phenomenon thereby attracting more foreign investments particularly in the mass media productions as well as tourism in general. In all of the high schools, colleges and universities all over the world there are two principal types of musical instruments being used. They are ensembles of string instruments and ensembles of wind instruments. We have started a project of pushing these institutions of learning that ensembles of steelpan instruments are an equivalent alternative to these other forms of musical instruments. Let us imagine that in every institution all over the world there is an equivalent steelpan ensemble comparable to strings and wind ensembles. This would generate billions of dollars to provide adequate instruments for all of these institutions. This would also brighten and secure the future of the steelpan as it would be in the hands of the youths in these institutions of learning. Again the question is answered that this ministry would be able to attract foreign investments and tourism. (6) This ministry should be able to positively affect the youths of the country. Steelpan programs are already in the curriculum of the public schools of Trinidad & Tobago, however a proper review of these programs should be undertaken to ensure that they are effective and producing the desired results. Likewise as mentioned before a simultaneous National Musical Literacy program for the pan yards should also be placed into effective operation. The pan yards should be transformed into steelpan academies eventually offering a level of education between high school and university. Acredited diploma at the end of graduation should be the objective of completing a study program at the pan yards (steelpan academies). The possibilities of attracting foreign students to these pan yards (steelpan academies) will become a great reality. Therefore when one graduates from the high school and they go to the pan yards (steelpan academies) they would actually be preparing themselves for university. This is a task only a Pan Ministry can accomplish and this would answer the question that this ministry would be able to positively affect the youths of the country. (7) This ministry should be able to create jobs and spin off related industries. If all of the above were to be implemented, jobs would naturally be created. In the sector of manufacture, apprenticeship programs would be introduced resulting in a new generation of pan tuners and pan-makers. Likewise in the sector of manufacture of pan stands, pan racks, pan cases and pan sticks, employment will be created. The chrome factories would also provide employment. Teachers for the public schools and more teachers for the literacy program for the pan yards (steelpan academies). More steelpan events would be created so as to provide outlets for the local as well as international participants. In so doing this ministry would be able to create jobs and spin off related industries. Question 2. – What is the strategy for implementing this proposal? My suggestions are the following. (1) We will need to establish an independent body of pan enthusiasts who believes in this project and wants to see that it becomes a reality. We must not allow ourselves tobe stuck at this point, we must be open to be inclusive to have representation from established steelpan organizations (Pan Trinbago in Trinidad) other worldwide organizations are also welcomed. We need to leave all egos and personal agendas outside of this body. (2) Awareness; we need to bring about an awareness to all the pan enthusiasts in Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean and the rest of the world. The awareness of this project has to be then brought to the entire population of Trinidad & Tobago. This is the age of information so massive media production is not difficult, newspaper, radio, television, internet access of Facebook, Twitter, steelpan media like ‘When Steel Talks’ & ‘Pan Podium’ to name a few. (3) We need to line up with lawyers who are willing to assist in this worthy cause. This is essential in tweaking the strategy of the proposal. After we have achieved these basic requirements then it would be the time for dialogue with the government of Trinidad & Tobago. We will need to dialogue directly with the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. In addition I wish to acknowledge that I am a steelpan activist who has been involved with the steelpan business for over 45 years. There are no personal financial benefits from this project, there are no personal social status benefits from this project. I am not the boss of this project rather I am just an individual who believes that the time has come for the steelpan in Trinidad & Tobago to have its own ministry. If you wish to join me in the belief that this is possible please do. I do not have all the answers, your input is welcomed. In this age of information we do not have to be in the same physical location to dialogue so we have the age of technology at our disposal, let us use it for the common good of this project. I leave you with one dream …imagine we have an exclusive “Ministry for the Steelpan in Trinidad & Tobago”. Submitted by …………………………………. Salah A. Wilson BFA music, MA musicology/ PHD candidate (York University) Author, Steelpan Activist, Teacher, Arranger
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 17:08:58 +0000
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