" Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve "

By Kerwin De Matas

First and foremost, KUDOS TO YOU TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ON YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! Congratulations to you my beautiful twin island state, you are 44 years of age today 31, August, 2006! You are still young and beautiful, even after trying your best to educate us as a people so that we won't go through all the suffering that you went through.

African slaves

I'm very sure you still blush a little for the countries that fought over you. Yes, in those days you were younger even, and dominated a control that was, and still is, to be respected. I don't think I have the ability to describe your beauty Trinbago, but from what I see, is enough to make me so proud of you. I see you two islands healing after years of wars from 1418 to 1888, fighting for the assets that's yours. After that, they decided to transport slaves to your shores, for the sugar plantations, I'm very sure that you cried on that day seeing people in bondage like that....


Indian labourers













The hard slavery years were over, hoooorey! Trinbago, you were then to be introduced to the Indian indentured labourers to work the sugar cane fields, since slavery was abolished. Then the Chinese came not too long after, to carry on the the rest of the work, but by then, immigrants from other countries were coming to your shores....yeh, you were becoming very cosmopolitan Trinbago, the culture pot of the Caribbean was cooking.

Divali celebration of lights

With this diversity, lots of tradition were introduced and new traditions were born, for example, the famous Hindu festival, Caribbean style called,Divali, the Muslim festival, Eid el ftr, and the African celebration, Emancipation day, all of them combined and Carnival was born!!

Show yuh colours!

Trinbago, may all your riches continue to benefit the peoples of your land, and just continue being our home for many, more years to come, love you and take care, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!..........

Sufferers of St James
Sonny Roach and the Sampson brothers


Nooksin and Addawell Sampson

By Kim Johnson

"A Tune Boom once strike a pain in my heart," Tripoli panman Lloyd Butcher once reminisced. "It make me feel very shame in the road."

That happened one Carnival in the late 1940s when the great south St James steelband, Tripoli, was jamming in the road, things nice, two blocks of people moving to the music.

"You now feeling to beat pan," described Butcher.

Continue........


For more of this article, go to www.trinbagopan.com

TOO MUCH PAIN...

By Kerwin De Matas

Lost everything

Katrina victims

Here we go again, hurricanes and tornadoes. Please god, give us a break. We have not been good boys or girls, but don't you think that we have been punished enough? Tsunami in Thailand, then you go back and give it to them again.... they must have been really bad. Of course, then you thought that since you were over there, that you had to give the rest of Asia a taste of it also.

Praying for a solution

Alright, so you decided that you wanted to take the United States down a peg or two. The small time terrorists acts were insignificant, so... just give them two airplanes in the world trade center and for the bonus maybe one in the pentagon and the white house ( but I guess the last two didn't work, were you upset?). You were really full of plans that year god. Please don't get me wrong, I do respect you and after those surprises you gave us, even more fear of you, but not so much that I won't write you this. Don't think that we don't know now that girly girl Katrina was your pet project, wipe the sin town New Orleans clean of all that dirt, wow... you really know how to punish, huh? Now after all of that, the wars get more intense in the middle east, petroleum prices go sky high, and now you want to get everyone scared again, Ernesto?!

Water for miles

Would he be something like Katrina? Come on god, give us a break. We are hurting alot now, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT!!...But we are human beings that want help on getting on the correct track. When a child is physically abused, do you think that child would go on as an example to everyone else, yeh right! Hope you see this article god and think about it.......

By Kerwin De Matas



Today, maybe I am in a sombre mood, and it's because of an article I saw in the Trinidad Express. And so, I just have to state my opinion on this frustrating subject, and in alot of cases. Witnesses...to curb crime, these people are very important, but it appears that in a lot of cases, they are scared to testify. Now this is something to think about. Most citizens won't get involved with being witnesses, even if it means saving their own lives, why? Because of the fear of getting the backlash of course!! What would happen though if everyone was to think along the same lines not thinking about being witnesses and face the crime problem, face to face, now that would be vigilante wouldn't it? form our groups! watch each others back! no fear! But one thing though....we have our families to think about, and are scared of what would happen to them if we were to get ourselves involved like that,( witnesses or vigilante!) you don't have to think that you are the only one. Definitely, there are alot of people all over who would just like to go vigilante and put a stop to the crime problem themselves, but would it cause more violence than we already have? Don't forget the family also, this is one of the real reasons that we think we shouldn't get involved. But guess what, if we don't try to put an end to these things, without the perseverance, the criminals would always be on top!! We have to find our confidence in our security institutions again....it's really sad that we let criminals rule, isn't it?......

McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog

By Kerwin De Matas

Smile with it!


The innocence in the music


Pan jam!!

Pan on the go


Rhythm of the pan


Steel pan in Chile!! It hasn't happened yet, but if someone ( and I know who..) continues behind the secretary of the steel band organization in Trinidad, it can be a reality. Now that would be something to look forward to. Just imagine, the huge trucks transporting the orchestras while they are playing down the streets lined with people. The sound of the steel, but steel tuned in a way, that the sound comes out really refined and it's so contagious that people just feel like dancing, dancing in the streets, even around the Plaza de Armas!! These of course are only thoughts and plans that would hopefully materialize into reality. There are alot of poor kids in Santiago, as in any other part in Chile. But for now the concentration is on the urban kids, because somehow or the other, they are the ones that tend to do things that get themselves in trouble. It's only because they are open to alot more influences, than kids that live outside of the urban districts. The idea is to give them projects that would definitely be positive and of course 100% fun! Letters are being sent often to the secretary of Pantrinbago to get ideas to lift this dream into reality. If or when Pantrinbago is ready to give us a hand with this project, a lot of local support would be needed of course. Again, the idea of steel pan in Chile is something to look forward to, cooking a culture pot in Chile. Have a good day, bye.

Staff Article
June 14, 2006

The 12th June, 2006, was the official Regional Launch of Carifesta IX 2006. A street parade around the Queen's Park Savannah initiated this occasion and was followed by the official launch at the Brian Lara Promenade.



Carifesta, the Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts, was envisaged in Guyana in 1970 by a regional gathering of artists who participated in a Writers and Artists Convention in Georgetown.



The Festival was thought about to provide artists with more opportunities to showcase and profit from their works; to educate Caribbean nationals about the values emerging from the various art forms emanating from the Caribbean; to depict the life of the people of the Region, their heroes, morale, myth, traditions, beliefs, creativeness, and ways of expression; and to entertain and educate members of the Caribbean about themselves within a festive atmosphere. In 1972, in Georgetown, Guyana, the dream of Carifesta came alive for the very first time and attracted creative talents from over 30 Caribbean and Latin American countries. Today, the Carifesta Festival is still a very popular occasion and attracts States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the wider Caribbean, Latin America; and a representation of Africa, Asia, Europe and North American states.




Yesterday, the Regional Launch of Carifesta IX was held for the third time in Trinidad and Tobago and proved to be a spectacle of the talents from people all over the country. Members of the Bishop Anstey High School Folk Choir sang the national anthem of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by a Smoke Ceremony by the Santa Rosa Carib Community. Official recognition of the Carifesta was also done by festival director, Joy Caesar, who gave the welcoming address; a folk song performed by the Bishop Anstey High School Folk Choir; and a song performed by Clifton Ryan, 'The Mighty Bomber' entitled, "United States of the West Indies". Greetings was given by the Chairman of the Interim Festival Directorate, Mr. Alwin Bally, and the official speech, by Senator the Honourable Joan Yullie Williams, the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.

Other important activities that followed were a musical extravaganza by the Hands of Rhythm rhythm section, a spectacular performance by the Williamsville Tassa Drummers, a folk dance by the Phoenix Folk Performers, pan on the promenade by the National Steel Orchestra among other grand performances. Worthy of mention were the performances of 2006 Extempo Monarch, Sheldon Blackman, the Explainer and Brian London who excited the crowd with their energetic and amusing performances.

Carifesta celebrations seem to be as popular as or even more so than years gone by. Hopefully, the objectives of the festival would come to fruition and promote the Caribbean in a more positive light. Carifesta celebrations would be held from Friday 22nd September, to Sunday 1st October, 2006.

This is a table showing the start of the CARIFESTA celebrations and the last date and place scheduled to host the event.

Article from the web site www.trinisoca.com.

Experimenting of the instrument


Then we come to 1941
Trinbagopan.com Staff Article
Interview Recorded: February 23, 2005
Posted: March 01, 2005


Then we come now to 1941 Guardian, where you have Sylvia Chan. She stated after 14 years away from this country she was going to see carnival for the first time. Seeing carnival now, she enjoyed the food, the parade was good in South, all the delicacies were good and it had a friendly atmosphere. But what she enjoyed most was the calypso and the Iron band which we call the steelband from Port of Spain. At no time at all in the lady's statement in the Guardian that she mentioned anything about the steelband. When you go into the 1941 newspaper, you would see for the carnival season that all appeared was the Tamboo Bamboo playing against each other trying to prove who have a better "ding ding" and that was in 1941 and 1942. So right there you would see from the Guardian newspaper or (the Gazette), that at no time did they mention anything about any steelband in South Trinidad.

Then you go to Gonzales. Gonzales is a place that claimed too, that the steelband started in Gonzales by one Muscle Rat. He said that the boys gather, (it was coming to carnival time), beating the Tamboo Bamboo and his Tamboo Bamboo burst and he run and start keeping time on a whole gas tank, and this is how the steelband started. But His brother, after being interviewed again by George Goddard, he gave a different story, his brother said, that it was Saucy Dean pick up a dus'bin an' Armin started to beat the gas tank, and this is how the steelband started. So one brother saying he went and beat the gas tank, an' de next brother calling ah different man who beat the gas tank. Now Coming from Gonzales, we had Pete Simon. Pete Simon is a sociologist, calypso writer, a teacher, calypso singer, you name it. He was very popular in Gonzales and in Trinidad. Pete Simon said dat de steelband started in Newtown in 1939. So we have three different versions from Gonzales, with Pete Simon claiming that the steelband started in Newtown in 1939, and then we have another version, "Spree" Simon, he said he was nine years old and playing in a Tamboo Bamboo band, when he lend someone the pan and it came back dent up and he started to pound out the pan where he got different sounds from a stone an' he started to play "I am a warrior" on it.

Everyone knows at that age no nine year old boy could have been seen in a Tamboo Bamboo band, they would never encourage you in a Tamboo Bamboo band no matter where you are from, an' then you have to put a question mark by "Spree" claiming at the age of nine it happen, because, "Spree" got shot in 1949 Christmas Eve day downtown, (he went in ah club dis badjohn ting). He was in hospital, and while in hospital, he was interviewed around March 03rd 1950 where he gave a whole description of the steelband and where he came from. He said I got my schooling in South and most people know that "Spree" came from South. But "Spree" came here at ah early age, all about fourteen years old, but around the age of sixteen, "Spree" bought a pan from Andrew "Pan" de la Bastide for 24 cents, learned these tunes, "I am a warrior" and "God save the king" an' on carnival Monday morning, he went down Marine Square beating with "Tokyo" where he saw His Excellency the Governor and went in front of the Governor and play de tune, "God save the king" and "I am a Warrior" and the governor clapped and everybody say dat he played a recognized tune and the people from John John started to campaign saying dat he is de man dat invented the steelpan.

Continue...

This article from the website www.trinbagopan.com.

The Early Beginnings of the Steelpan
The Untold Story
Trinbagopan.com Staff Article
Interview Recorded: February 23, 2005
Posted: March 01, 2005

Norman Darway is one of the most informed elders on the origin and history of the Steelband/Pan. Apart from his own personal experiences during the embryonic stages of its development, Norman Darway still continues to spend much of his time researching and contributing copious amounts of information about the birth and evolution of the steelband/pan.

Many people continue to visit Mr. Darway for advice and information. It was truly an honour and a privilege to sit with him on the veranda of his home in St. James as he shared history.

This is how Mr. Darway tells the story:

We are dealing now with the history of the steelband and where it started, how it started and the amount of distortion on the birth of the steelpan.

One of the first distortions I would like to deal with is Mr. Humphrey Reefer's version in the T&T Mirror dated March 26th 1987.

Mr. Humphrey dealt with one Baird, who he said, picked up an oil drum and started beating it on Point Fortin beach, and this is how the steelband started in 1931. He made this statement to Mr. George Goddard, who was one of the past presidents of the steelband Association. Now when Mr. Goddard asked him, where did they get the steel drum from, he said that Port of Spain did not have any steel-drum and South had steel-drum because they use to ship oil. Then Mr. Goddard asked him when was the first time he ever came to Port of Spain and he said that it was in 1934 to attend a dance at Prince's building. But what happen to Mr. Humphrey, to me, he didn't know that all over Trinidad there were wooden barrels, there were no steel-drums. The people who came to produce steel drums, or make steel-drums in this country, was a company by de name of Van leer Steel Workers Company who came in the late 1936-37 to make steel-drums so that we could have shipped Pitch and Oil instead of using the wooden barrel.

When I talked on the radio about the weight of a steel-drum in the early days, that no one man couldn'-a pick up a steel-drum in one hand and beat it, the next year Mr. Humphrey come and say that it was a half ah drum that the fella, one Baird started to beat. Now, two hours after interviewing Mr. Humphrey, George Goddard went to a fella by the name of Fyzul Odinga, stated that it happen, but it happen in 1935. So we look at de distortion at time, because Humphrey say it happen in 1931 and Odinga say it happen in 1935. But what you would see is that no time at all, the guy dat they talking about, Baird, ever claimed or ever come forward to say that he started the steel-drum. Nobody know who is Baird. Later on from the South of Trinidad, a guy by the name of Horace "Nickadee" Nicholas who was from a band call Bataan, he said that the steelband started in 1939 at Kings Warf. So, we see three different versions now appearing about the steelband starting in South Trinidad. From South we come now again to a guy by the name of Franklyn Roberts. Franklyn Roberts said that he got a pan from George Street after he visit his brother who was an apprentice Taylor on Charlotte Street, and he took that pan back to Buenos Ayres where de boys and dem start beating it, and then they form a band by de name of Starlite. He said that Point Fortin, got their steelband long after Buenos Ayres, and this was due to Philmore "Boots" Davidson who was from Casablanca Steelband, coming to see his mother at Erin road in Point Fortin, and teach de guys in the area how to play the pan, and he called them Young Casablanca.

Continue...
I would continue this excerpt on the next edition. this was from the website www.trinbagopan.com. Have a good day.

By Kerwin De Matas

Sir Solomon Hochoy
Mr.Noor Hassanali


I opened the Trinidad Express today on the internet and was totally taken offguard. Many people would ask, so what. Well,one of our ex-presidents Mr.Noor Hassanali has died. Condolences to his family first and formost. Mr Hassanali for me was an excellent example of how someone´s race or religion dosen´t matter when it comes to more important things, like running a country and trying to maintain it´s moral values. This gentleman was our second president, can you believe it? That´s how young our nation is, we are a developing nation, so young compared to other countries but developing in a way that´s increidibly tremendous. Was it true that he was always on the back burner when N.A.R was in power as the government at the time? Hell no!! Mr Hassanali was very much part in what took place in our country and didn´t live all the protocol as our first Governor-General, Sir Solomon Hochoy,then our first President Sir Ellis Clark. During the second world war he served in the Canadian training corps, maybe he saw action, maybe not, the point is that he had an experience that further developed his insight for future endeavours. He studied law then returned to Trinidad to practice his vocation. Not straying from the topic, but just musing a little bit now. Religion for me has become something I really don´t like elaborating much on, but looking at our present world issues, one would see that the muslims were always in the lime light but even more so now. It´s so easy for everyone now to blame islam for everything that´s happening in the world today, wars, inflation, high petroleum prices etc. But please take into consideration, that not all the members of islam are terrorists...in every religion you have the troublemakers. Al qaida and their angry men as well as other terrorists factions are just that, TROUBLE MAKERS!! They are making life a living hell for all other true believers elsewhere in other countries. The stigma now, muslims are bad eggs...come on. Our ex president surely was no bad egg. Ex laywer, then magistrate, then President in two ruling parties, N.A.R ( National Reliance for Reconstruction ) then P.N.M ( People´s National Movement ). What do you think about that, and he was a muslim!! Thanks Mr Hassanali for your examples, hope our country would remember you and everything that you represented and may you rest in peace.

"We lost the game but had great time at the stadium," was how Japanese national Yoichi Watanabe described last Wednesday's encounter between the Soca Warriors and his country's home team.

The "we" to whom he referred was a group of some 100 fellow Japanese, who have become enamoured with Trinidad and Tobago largely through association with steelband music, many of them making the annual trek to perform with local orchestras at the Panorama competition. Watanabe, a music producer and audio engineer, has recorded several local steelbands, including three CDs for Sagicor Exodus.

Speaking with the Sunday Express shortly after the game his country won two-nil, Watanabe said: "We were overwhelmed inside the stand, as there were 60,000 fans and only 100 supporting Trinidad and Tobago but that wasn't the issue for us. We had a 38-member steelband and played Destra's "Fly" and "Fighter" (aka "Soca Warriors") by Maximus Dan and we had a great time.

"Some of the steelband action was captured by one of our major television stations, Channel 6, who were drawn to our section by the music from these instruments. They showed us on the evening news next day with a full minute of the Panland Steel Orchestra, which featured Panorama regulars like Aiko Sugano playing "Flag Woman".

"Next day, they visited the factory of a Japanese pan tuner and did a five-minute piece showing nice coverage of pan. The steelband for the game was organised by Kayos Kawashima, who imports pans from Trinidad and who liaised with the Japanese Football Federation for us to get permission to play inside Tokyo stadium. He is also the founder, organiser and general manager of the annual Yokohama steelband fiesta, which will take place this year on August 26 and 27."


This was an article from the Trinidad Express, www.TrinidadExpress.com, Just look at the diversity of pan eh! This instrument unites people, in good times and bad ( the steel pan riots ?! ). But in our glory during the world-cup qualifying matches, we had support from many countries, including Japan. They travelled all the way from their country with their steelpan intruments to lend support to our team. That was increidible, thanks Japan. We as a nation should devote ourselves as well 100% to promote our national intrument, with alot of pride. Everytime I see countries like, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, England, United States and the list goes on, adopting our national instrument as if it were their own, I don't feel jealous, but more proud than ever to be a Trinbagonian. I would do my very best to put more information on my blog about the steelpan and the steelpan movement, and with acceptable writing of course...to get my message through. What ever comments or suggestions that you might have regarding this or any other topic, would be happily welcomed. Until my next item, have a good day.

By Kerwin De Matas



Supposedly troubled kids and steelpan. Why troubled kids? Why are they troubled in the first place?



We as a society should investigate these allegations before summing up these opinions. Kids are always a result of their environment. When they grow up in an environment that's really difficult, it does not mean that they would turn out society's ills, but definitly would need the help and support of their parents first and then the rest ( meaning teachers, responsible friends, youth organizations etc.) to better themselves. We really compliment each other, when you really think about it....



This is what happens when alot of these kids try to overcome their misfortunes ( like being called society's ills ) . But I would really suggest please to the people that we are always each other's guardians and not the always famous " each one for themselves ". Kids that grew up in troubled areas and did not receive the support necessary still need help emotionally and psychologically. Because this is their way to help their self esteem in these moments. Do not leave them to tackle this on their own, I know what I am saying, my brother went through the same scenario. Help them, because as you can see, they are giving their all!!! So the steelpan organization in alot of cases have helped these children cope with their realities and alot of them lead great lives as responsable citizens. Would really like your opinions on this and other issues like this. Thanks to www.pantrinbago.com for the photos.

****** TESTING ****** testing *******

Just a correction on the last blog. When I said that this site on the blogger is being restructured, I meant the http://triniculture.blogspot.com/. Have a good day.

The Early Beginnings of the Steelpan
The Untold StoryTrinbagopan.com Staff ArticleInterview Recorded: February 23, 2005Posted: March 01, 2005Norman Darway is one of the most informed elders on the origin and history of the Steelband/Pan. Apart from his own personal experiences during the embryonic stages of its development, Norman Darway still continues to spend much of his time researching and contributing copious amounts of information about the birth and evolution of the steelband/pan.Many people continue to visit Mr. Darway for advice and information. It was truly an honour and a privilege to sit with him on the veranda of his home in St. James as he shared history.

If you want to know more about the steel pan organization, you can log in to www.pantrinbago.com. Remember that this site on www.blogger.com is being restructured to receive all the comments and questions that any one might have on the steel pan organization or any other questions concerning Trinidad and Tobago, home of steelpan. Please participate and let's have fun.

• Just want to say hi in presenting my new blog and waiting on comments on the steel pan, its origens etc.
• Anyone sharing the same love for this instrument like myself, are very welcome to participate.
• Please forgive the plainess of this site, but of course structuring is in process.