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March 29, 2007 - Volume 1, No. 6
HOME FOR THE
CARNIVAL
When the
government announced in 2006 that 2006 was going
to be the last year for the use of the Queen’s
Park Savannah for the carnival celebrations,
including the Panorama, I decided that 2007 was
the right time to go home for the carnival. I
wanted to see what the new carnival would look
like. For me, it was a new beginning. Mas would
be played on the streets and the bands would not
have to wait on the 5000 members bands to go on
the stage. All judging will be held on the
streets and a new venue (San Fernando) will be
the place for Panorama 2007 until the Carnival
Cultural Center was built to replace the grand
stand.
I left New York
JFK airport early on Valentine day excited and
in great anticipation of what to expect for
carnival 2007. JFK was a breeze as I did not
experience any problems with security. I arrived
at Piarco airport in Trinidad around 3pm in the
afternoon. It was sunny, as many visitors and
returnees like myself, crowded the airport
waiting to be permitted entrance to our
beautiful island in the sun. My friends and I
rented a car so that we would have
transportation night and day to visit many of
the local sites and travel to the Panorama and
other festivities without problems.
As I traveled from
Piarco airport and passed through Trincity, I
noticed what has become the symbol of an
unfinished art form, namely the unfinished
headquarters of Pantrinbago. As I passed this
unfinished building it reminded me of what is
wrong with the steelband movement lodged in
Trinbago’s unfinished society. The unfinished
concrete building also said a lot about the
future of the steelband movement in Trinbago,
which is still to be completed. I wondered how
Pantrinbago and the steelbands could tolerate
this mind blowing unsightly structure.
I was anxious and
excited to see the new carnival since the
government’s intentions to rebuild the grand
stand (Carnival Cultural Center) permitted the
carnival to return once more to the streets of
Port of Spain. Also new was the venue for the
national Panorama competition. It was held at
Skinner’s Park in San Fernando, the nation’s
industrial capital. It was the first time that
the Panorama was removed from its traditional
venue, the Queen’s Park Savannah. Some people
predicted transportation problems and much
delay. But, they were proved wrong in every step
of the way. Instead, the new carnival, including
the Panorama was the best. In the future the
Panorama should be rotated between Port of Spain
and San Fernando bi-annually.
My friends Steve,
Colleen and I stayed in Pax Vale at Santa Cruz.
On carnival Saturday in the early evening we
left Port of Spain at City Gate (Big up for the
Port of Spain Museum at City Gate) for the
Panorama at San Fernando as we wanted to catch
the large steelbands practicing before the
competition began. The trip took only about 30
minutes with no traffic problems. As we arrived
in Sando (San Fernando) the evening atmosphere
was calm as the breeze blew cool air and
panjumbies stood listening to their favorite
steelband warm up for the finals. Eight
steelbands (Exodus, Renegades, Invaders,
Tropical Angel Harps, Starlift, Phase II and All
Stars) participated in the finals. The
neighborhood businesses opened their space to
the steelbands to practice and the community was
out in full force. I saw Africans and Indians
supporting their various steelbands.
This new Panorama
was more inclusive for the audiences as they
were able to walk throughout Skinner Park and
still see the bands. The stage was better suited
for video taping and the banner declaring
“Panorama 2007” was larger. And, although all
the bands used canopies, this time it was pretty
to the eyes. I was a little disappointed with
the Panorama music this year but All Stars
arrangement of Defosto’s Pan Lamentation was
impressive and won the Panorama 2007. But, the
band that captured my imagination was
Desperadoes. This musical icon of Laventille did
not fail to live up to expectations as it
captured 4th place in the Panorama
coming from last place in the semi-finals. The
band’s improvement was no surprise as everyone
knows the skills and determination of the
panists from Laventille. Thanks to their
arranger Robbie Greenidge they maintained their
reputation as a most formidable band in the
competition. I would have given them 3rd
place. Some even said that if Robbie had started
the tune earlier they might have been more
competitive.
I was disappointed
by Phase II because I heard some parts of last
year’s arrangements in this year’s tune.
Renegades was predictable as usual as Jit did
his Latin interpretation that he has played over
the last ten years. Although I loved Jit’s
arrangement I believe that it did not capture
the judges as in the past. Invaders was very
good and I hope that Ardin Herbert keeps trying
because one day he will win a Panorama and I
hope it will be with Invaders (who has never won
any pan competition). Exodus was too fast. For
some reason Pelham Goddard’s music is not
memorable after carnival. There are no sweet
lines to sing as in arrangements of Rebecca or
Woman and the bass. I liked Angel Harps whose
arranger Clarence Morris is a favorite of mine.
Starlit must decide what to do with Ray Holman
as their arranger. While Ray’s music is very
intricate and interesting to hear it is not
Panorama music. I call it post-Panorama music.
That makes it very difficult for Starlift to win
a Panorama with his arrangement. But, I loved
it.
I played mas both
days (Hawaiian on Monday and Sailor “Fleets In”
on Tuesday) with All Stars and was able to see
different mas bands. Most of the mas bands were
large and had many young people. It seems that
mas is or the youth these days. I liked the
route chosen for most bands. It started at Queen
Street near the Mosque and went around the
bridge on Piccadilly Street to Park Street and
then into Charlotte Street to the savannah
(Memorial Park) and then left around the
savannah to Cipriani Boulevard to Tragarette
Road and then left on Carlos Street and another
left on Arapita Avenue to Independence Square.
There were judges
at certain main points on the carnival route. On
both carnival days All Stars hired a rhythm band
that was awesome. It kept a steady tempo beat
and people enjoyed its rhythms. The Bomb
competition was held in front of Renegades
panyard where the steelbands performed for the
judges. A few steelbands were absent. All Stars
won the bomb competition and became the first
steelband to win the $1 million dollar prize for
Panorama in the new Panorama. It is indeed the
million dollar band.
As I reflect on
the Panorama I believe that Pantrinbago should
have chosen 10 steelbands (instead of 8) for the
national Panorama finals since there were going
to be bands from Port of Spain, San Fernando and
Tobago vying for supremacy in the finals. It
would have been good sense to include a South
band since this was the first time that Panorama
was being held in San Fernando and out side of
Port of Spain. How to do it was the problem?
Yes, the Judges’ decision is final but
Pantrinbago should have been smart enough to
anticipate the confusion and expand the bands to
10.
The steelband
movement in Trinbago is going through many
problems. For example, some steelbands are
experiencing age differences as many of the
younger panists don’t seem to know the elder
members of the band. And, if they do, don’t want
them in the band. I spoke to one Elder and
pointed out to him that I blame the Elders for
this gap because steelbands should have been
holding history classes once a month to educate
the younger panists about the history of their
steelband. They should have been introduced to
the Elders, some of whom are founders of the
band. Also, the band should carve out a special
place for the Elders. They should receive the
respect from the younger panists who should be
aware of their numerous contributions.
One of the things
I noticed among the younger players is the way
they approach the instrument. Some don’t seem to
understand it. After all, the steelpan is a
percussion instrument. As such, it should not be
‘beaten’ heavily but played smoothly. Bertie
Marshall pointed this out a few years go. I
remember the first time I went to learn to play
pan in City Syncopators Kelvin Hart, who was our
primary soloist, showed me how to hold my sticks
and play the notes. He also taught me to never
leave my pan unattended when practice was over.
I don’t know if classes are held to teach the
younger panists how to play and treat the
instrument. Some of the bands have large
panyards, so making room for a pan school in the
yard is possible. Another problem I noticed is
the usage of space in the panyards. Most of the
steelbands have a bar and sell food and drinks.
But, I did not see a store where panjumbies
could purchase steelband books or the band’s
recordings.
As a Nelsonian I traveled daily to Nelson Street and
behind the bridge. It seems that Nelson Street is
quiet these days. There is a Police Unit at the
corner of Prince and Nelson Streets. The buildings
are rotting and the maintenance is poor. There is
rubbish between the buildings and the street lights
are dim. Why? I asked someone. The response was:
“The government don’t care about Nelson Street.”
After spending three weeks (day and night) on Nelson
Street it seems to be true because the lights were
still not fixed before I left. But, I saw a glimmer
of hope. The Nelsonians who returned for carnival
spent much time liming on Nelson Street daily. The
local Nelsonians came out well dressed to meet and
greet them. At no time did I feel threatened or
unsafe. No one begged me for anything. Those I knew
greeted me and those I did not know said hello. For
a brief moment I asked myself if those of us who
migrated had not left and stayed what would have
been the outcome. Nelson Street will never be the
same and soon it will be torn down to make way for
new development. I don’t think that the current
residents will be invited back. So, I gathered my
memories.
My next journey
was behind the bridge. We drove up Laventille
Road and parked the car at the corner of
Schuller Street where the stand pipe continues
to run water continuously as it was never fixed.
I walked around and saw old friends. Some went
the way of drugs and did not age properly.
Others went the way of alcohol and suffered the
same fate. But, they remembered me and gave me
respect. Most of the houses behind the bridge
were old and dilapidated by years of neglect.
There were some new houses built. In Morvant,
the government was building a new housing
project. I also visited Maloney, another working
class area. The houses were pre-fabricated and
built for winter. There were hardly any windows
but large slabs of concrete. It was not pretty.
One day I walked
from the breakfast shed on Wrightson Road to
Belmont. It was quite a trek but I saw a lot.
Belmont was always a middle class area mixed
with working class. But, today most of the
buildings are run down due to lack of
maintenance. I visited a few friends at St.
Francois Valley Road and Franco Lane. I just had
to see Darceuil lane where I used to party in
the good soulful days of the sixties. Some of
the houses were torn down. The Casablanca
Steelband, which is now at the corner of Belmont
Circular Road, seemed to be on its way back (Years
ago, they were reduced to a small band status)
as the band practiced in their large panyard.
One Man (remaining Elder) must be proud. Gone
were the badjohn days when Blanca, as they were
known then, was a force to be reckoned with.
During my travels
around the country, I discovered four Trinidads:
1. The West
(Woodbrook, St. James and Diego Martin etc.),
starting from Green corner where life is not too
stressful and there are lots of commercial
development taking place.
2. The East,
starting from Charlotte Street, (Laventille,
John John, Belmont, Gonzales, Morvant etc.) to
the Croisse in San Juan where poverty reigns
supreme like always. No development at all. The
houses are old and lack maintenance. The roads
are still very narrow. Some of the buildings I
knew are gone, all broken down with nothing to
replace them. In their space nothing but bush.
3. Central,
starting from Chaguanas, (Arima, Sangre Grande,
Tunapuna etc.) where people are employed. New
houses are being built. Lots of businesses
opened.
4. The South.
All those areas are experiencing development
where space seems to be a bad word. One can live
in these three areas (West, Central and South)
and never have to visit the East for anything,
except the steelpan. So you had large crowds
visiting All Stars, Renegades and Desperadoes.
The hills are certainly not alive and are in
desperate need of rebuilding.
My visit was
memorable and enjoyable. Everyone I met was
friendly, courteous and always ready to help. I
saw hope in the eyes of young people but I am
somewhat apprehensive about their future. The
two major political parties have ruled Trinbago
since 1956. There is much work to be done but it
will take a new group with a wide vision to turn
things around.
Stay Blogged |
|
P.S. If readers don’t understand any of the
carnival or steelband terms used here, please go
to the
Port of Pan ABC at pan-jumbie-com.
Otherwise you may contact this writer. Thanks
for reading. |
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