Each year, there are gripes in the
steelband community, both in Trinidad and Tobago and
abroad, about the prize monies for their
respective steelband competitions. This year was no
different, and the customary loud grumbles found themselves
immortalized in song, via Winston
Scarborough's (aka calypsonian D Original de Fosto) 'Pan Lamentation.' The song was a popular one
for the 2007 Panorama season, with fourteen orchestras
in the conventional categories opting to take it to the
competition arena. The selection essentially
served as an indictment on behalf of the pan community,
and decries the lack of respect meted out to the pan people.
Among the grouses documented in de Fosto's ditty, are
what have been widely-perceived by many as the 'paltry
prize monies' up for grabs in the annual competition.
In one of his performances, De Fosto called for "one
million, five [hundred thousand]" TT dollars for the first prize.
It was also back in March 2006
when Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold went on
record that his organization would be seeking one
million dollars as the grand prize for Panorama 2007.
The government finally handed over, as late as
February 14, 2007 (three days before the panorama
finals) TT 10.6 million dollars to Pan
Trinbago. It was then confirmed that there was an allocation for at least 66.66
percent of what calypsonian de Fosto had called for as the first
prize. Eight bands in the large category competed
for the one million TT (159,000 USD) prize that awaited
the victorious steel orchestra. That figure reflected 750,000 in cash,
and 250,000 in 'units' from the Trinidad and Tobago Unit
Trust Corporation, a mutual funds investment company.
If as in the past, for the annual national panorama season, Pan
Trinbago - the world governing body for pan - still retains ten percent of the gross earnings
of each steelband, then automatically the victorious
band is down to nine hundred thousand dollars from the
one million prize packet. The same is true,
naturally, for all other orchestras.
In 2004, the
top prizes for the national panorama finals in the
large, medium and small conventional steel orchestra
categories were: TT 200,000; TT 140,000 and TT 100,000,
respectively. Prize monies across the board rose
incrementally during the three year-period since to
where they stand for 2007. Things have improved,
but many would say that there is still much room for
improvement. Handing over 10.6 million for the
2007 panorama season is one thing. But it is an
interesting figure, given the following. In 1999,
when the Trinidad and Tobago government allocated
seventy-five million
as they prepared to host that year's Ms. Universe
pageant, they said they had a
mere two million to spare for their
commitment to the annual event that showcases the
country's national instrument to the world.
Below are the prizes garnered by
bands who made it to this year's steelband panorama conventional
orchestra finals.
2007 Conventional Steel Orchestras -
Prizes |
|
Large category |
Medium category |
Small category |
1st Prize |
TT $1,000,000 |
TT $600,000 |
TT $400,000 |
2nd Prize |
TT $700,000 |
TT $550,000 |
TT $350,000 |
3rd Prize |
TT $650,000 |
TT $500,000 |
TT $300,000 |
4th Prize |
TT $600,000 |
TT $450,000 |
TT $250,000 |
5th Prize |
TT $550,000 |
TT $400,000 |
TT $200,000 |
6th Prize |
TT $500,000 |
TT $350,000 |
TT $150,000 |
7th Prize |
TT $450,000 ** |
TT $300,000 |
TT $100,000 |
8th Prize |
TT $400,000 ** |
TT $250,000 |
TT $100,000 |
**
Note: In
the Large category - since
there was a tie for seventh and eighth place, both
prizes were combined, and split equally, for a total
disbursement of
$425,000
each to both bands
Data
courtesy Pan Trinbago