PanTrinbago: Be prepared to give up something

PANTRINBAGO's financial troubles are far from over.

Speaking at the official opening of the organisation's office, at the corner of Duke and Melbourne Streets, president Beverly Ramsey-Moore said as manager of Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra in Tobago, she too has had to tell her 90 players who performed for Panorama 2018, that PanTrinbago does not have the funds to pay players.

And, she said, it does not look possible for 2019.

Ramsey-Moore said the organisation moved from an allocation of $30 million to $20 million, and the executive cannot continue to put the organisation in debt.

“We are appealing to our member bands, speak to your players just as I have done as a manager that we are all in this together. Somebody has to give. If we have to maintain our price structure and if we have to ensure we satisfy our members, then they too must come up with resourceful ways of servicing their players.

“We have a commitment to member bands, the member bands have a commitment to their players. We cannot do it at this time. If we continue to do that, then we will not be able to get out of the dark and slippery hole that we are in.”

Ramsey-Moore said the executive will continue to work with all hands on deck, but people must be prepared to give up something.

She acknowledged that the situation was painful as players were expecting payment, but she said the organisation did not create the problem.

“Those who created the mischief must pay for it. But whatever is necessary, give us a chance, maybe in the next two or three years, when our country begin to grow again, then we might be allocated another $30 million so we can take care of our past.

“When you walk into Katzenjammers pan yard, you see businesses, you see transportation businesses, a bar, a food court, a gift shop, that is what we need, inspiring leaders. We cannot be dependent on government for a loaf of bread. This is what we want to demonstrate to bands here.”

Ramsey-Moore said bands cannot be winning a Panorama every year and after five years, the bands do not have anything to show for their hard work.

She said there must be a change in the culture of the organisation.

“Prosperity. We must find it within ourselves. We have a gift. Why must we be a set of hustlers? No. The hustling days for Pan Trinbago done. This is what we are bringing to the table. It will take some time. I am sorry, our allocation is about $20 million and we definitely cannot pay. If we have to maintain a price structure of over $13 million, we definitely can’t, when we have to run Panorama in terms of workers, administration among other staff.

She said Pan Trinbago will no longer have central executive’s members as employees of the organisation.

Ramsey-Moore said the organisation has already cut back in rent and saved over one million on rental fees after being allowed to rent the building free for one year.